News Update

STM, a Turkish Drone Industry Giant, Leads the Charge to Showcase Cutting-Edge Technology at DronTech Asia 2026

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STM, a giant in Turkey’s drone industry, is bringing its diverse range of unmanned aerial systems to DronTech Asia 2026, held from November 11–13, 2026, at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani. Capable of supporting a full range of defense missions and driving the UAV industry forward through AI and automation, STM exports to more than 15 countries as it aims to become a global leader in autonomous technology.

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) industry is becoming one of the world's fastest-growing technology sectors amid changing security landscapes, technological shifts, and geopolitical dynamics. Many countries are accelerating investments in research and development (R&D) to build self-reliance and push the defense industry forward as a primary economic engine for value creation.

Turkey stands out as one of the most watched nations, having transformed from a defense technology importer into an internationally recognized developer and exporter of unmanned aerial systems. Playing a key role at the heart of this industry is Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. (STM), whose involvement spans design, research, development, and manufacturing to exporting UAV technology globally. Today, STM's products are deployed in over 15 countries worldwide, reflecting the global competitiveness of Turkey’s drone industry.

Building an Industry from a Strategy of Self-Reliance

Mr. Özgür Güleryüz, Chief Executive Officer of STM, revealed that the success of Turkey’s UAV industry stems from a policy of Defense Self-Sufficiency built on continuous domestic engineering and R&D investments, paired with rapidly refining products based on real-world operational feedback. This approach enables Turkish unmanned aerial systems to meet practical operational demands and undergo continuous evolution.

Key strengths of Turkish UAVs include cost-effectiveness, mission efficiency, high resilience in electronic jamming environments, and advanced automated features that provide operational flexibility across reconnaissance, surveillance, and tactical operations. These capabilities allow Turkish products to compete effectively with the world's major defense manufacturers.

Developing Diverse Platforms for Every Mission

STM currently develops more than 13–14 unmanned aerial platforms covering reconnaissance drones, strike drones, and loitering munition systems, including KARGU, TOGAN, ALPAGU, BOYGA, KUZGUN, and TUNGA-X—all designed to support a wide range of operational requirements.

At the heart of this development is the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, and Computer Vision. These technologies empower UAVs to autonomously plan flight paths, track targets, execute swarm operations, and operate effectively even in GPS-denied or communications-jammed environments—capabilities attracting immense interest from defense sectors worldwide.

Expanding Production Capacity to Serve Global Markets

In addition to technological development, STM is actively scaling up its industrial manufacturing capacity to fulfill orders from both the Turkish Armed Forces and international clients while upholding defense-grade quality standards.

Another major milestone in 2026 is securing contracts from NATO and European Union (EU) member states to integrate KARGU and ALPAGU drone systems onto armored land vehicles. This achievement underscores global confidence in STM’s technology and serves as a major catalyst for the long-term expansion of Turkey’s drone industry.

Moving Toward an Integrated Unmanned Systems Platform

STM envisions that the future of unmanned systems will not be limited to aerial platforms alone, but will expand toward fully integrated air, surface, and underwater platforms. Core technologies driving future development include AI, autonomous control, swarm operations, GNSS-independent navigation, and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T).

This direction reflects the UAV industry's evolution into a comprehensive Unmanned Systems Ecosystem—seamlessly connecting software, artificial intelligence, communications, and aircraft platforms—which will mature into a high-value industry generating long-term economic opportunities for tech-developing nations.

Showcasing Potential at DronTech Asia 2026

At DronTech Asia 2026, taking place November 11–13, 2026, at IMPACT Exhibition and Convention Center, Muang Thong Thani, Nonthaburi, STM will display its combat-proven unmanned aerial systems, including:

• KARGU: A loitering munition system capable of swarm operations.
• TOGAN: A day/night reconnaissance and surveillance drone paired with the NEST Smart Nesting System for continuous missions.
• BOYGA: A mortar-dropping drone designed for high-precision strike missions.

STM’s participation highlights Turkey’s role as a world leader in the UAV industry while offering entrepreneurs, investors, and security agencies across Asia an opportunity to exchange knowledge and explore autonomous technologies—a strategic industry set to play a pivotal role in global economy, technology, and security over the coming decade.