“Unveiling Cutting-Edge Maritime and Drone Technologies: STM’s Highlights at LAAD Brazil and UDT Norway”
STM, a prominent entity in the Turkish defense sector, is set to showcase its maritime platforms and tactical mini UAV systems at significant global defense exhibitions in Brazil (LAAD) and Norway (UDT).
Having contributed significantly to Türkiye’s recent advancements in the defense arena, STM provides essential solutions in domains such as maritime platforms, tactical mini UAV systems, and command-and-control. STM, a division of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB), leverages its expertise, acquired through the company’s endeavors to address Türkiye’s requirements, to assist friendly and allied nations through collaboration and technology transfer.
Unmanned Underwater Vehicle “STM NETA” Set to Launch in Europe
Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) 2025 is scheduled to take place in Oslo, Norway, from March 25–27. As Europe’s premier event focusing on submarine defense innovations, UDT will present STM’s newest solutions in underwater and maritime defense security.
Having been integral to the Turkish Navy’s submarine modernization and construction initiatives, STM will display Türkiye’s inaugural indigenous special operations and assault submarine design, STM500, alongside the Unmanned Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (UUV) “STM NETA” at UDT 2025. STM will also introduce TCG İSTANBUL (F-515), Türkiye’s first national frigate and the inaugural vessel of the MİLGEM İstif-Class project, for which STM acted as the primary contractor, in addition to Türkiye’s national Ada-Class Corvette, Logistic Support Ship, and STM MPAC – Multi Purpose Attack Craft.
Battle-Tested Tactical Mini UAV Systems
Latin America’s largest defense and security exhibition, LAAD Defence & Security 2025, is slated for April 1–4, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. STM, which has been a trailblazer in Türkiye and globally in the advancement of tactical mini UAVs, will unveil its KARGU platform at the event, recognized as Türkiye’s first national attack UAV. Since its debut, KARGU, capable of deploying anti-personnel and armor-piercing munitions, has been exported to over 10 nations across three continents. STM will further showcase its TOGAN Surveillance UAV, which has recently been integrated into the Turkish Armed Forces and is actively deployed in counter-terrorism efforts, achieving noteworthy export figures, along with its BOYGA ammunition-drop UAV at LAAD-2025.
In the realm of maritime defense, STM will feature the İstif-Class Frigate, Ada-Class Corvette, STM MPAC, STM CG-3100 Coast Guard Ship, STM500 Submarine, and STM NETA during the exhibition.
Güleryüz: We Aspire to Boost Our Exports in Europe and South America
Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, emphasized that under SSB’s guidance, Türkiye has emerged as an international player, highlighting the following:
“With our national platforms and engineering capabilities tailored for our armed forces, we are making substantial contributions to bolstering the defense capabilities of friendly and allied nations. As Türkiye’s engineering powerhouse at sea, we are a trustworthy collaborator for the world’s navies. Following the naval projects we executed for Pakistan and Ukraine, we have now initiated the construction of three corvettes for the Malaysian Navy. With the Auxiliary Oiler Replenisher and Logistics Ships we will manufacture for the Portuguese Navy, we have achieved Türkiye’s inaugural naval export to an EU and NATO member nation. Additionally, we have included our battle-tested tactical mini UAV systems into the inventories of over 10 nations across three continents. Within NATO, we persist in sustaining our prominence with our command-and-control and software technologies. Our adaptable engineering solutions, compliant with NATO standards, are garnering attention from the Asia-Pacific to Europe, and from Africa to the Gulf Region. Through the LAAD and UDT exhibitions, we aim to enhance our exports and partnerships in Europe and South America.”
STM – UDT-2025 Booth Details:
Booth No: F31
Date: March 25-27, 2025
Location: Norway | Oslo | NOVA Spektrum
STM – LAAD-2025 Booth Details:
Booth No: Hall 4 / Booth P61
Date: April 1-4, 2025
Location: Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Riocentro
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Production Aligned with NATO Compliance
STM is engaged in partnerships, technology exchange, and business expansion in over 30 nations, ranging from South America to the Far East. As part of its design, construction, and modernization efforts, STM innovates flexible indigenous engineering solutions for the surface and submarine fleets of Türkiye – a NATO member with one of the most active navies globally – as well as for the navies of friendly and allied nations, catering to specific demands and ensuring enhanced operational efficiency. The systems effectively utilized by the Turkish Navy are being exported abroad by STM as premier, affordable, and modern engineering solutions. STM, with its long-term service support and domestically developed weapon systems, distinguishes itself by offering its products and capabilities to other nations’ navies in ways that embargoes cannot impede.
STM: The Preferred Choice of Navies Worldwide, From Ukraine to Portugal
STM places great emphasis on cost-efficiency, uninterrupted technical assistance, and knowledge sharing in every project it undertakes, fostering collaborations that enhance nations’ defense capabilities. STM delivers services to the Turkish Navy in the design, construction, and modernization of maritime platforms, including the Ada-Class Corvette, İstif-Class Frigate, Logistic Support Ships, fast attack vessels, and submarines. As a dependable partner in naval projects, STM is currently building two corvettes for Ukraine and three corvettes for Malaysia, alongside executing a fleet replenishment tanker and the modernization project for the Agosta 90B Class submarine for Pakistan.
Recently, STM finalized a contract to build two Logistic Support Ships for the Portuguese Navy. This initiative signifies Türkiye’s inaugural naval export to a NATO and European Union member country. With a modular architecture, these ships will provide logistical support, transfer fuel and cargo at sea, and facilitate joint operational capabilities. Furthermore, they will aid amphibious missions with their capacity to transport armored vehicles.
Innovative Submarine Programs
STM is also undertaking critical responsibilities in the modernization and construction of submarines for the Turkish Navy. After successfully modernizing two Ay-Class Submarines (Type-209/1200) in the role of the main contractor, STM is currently involved in the upgrade of eight Turkish Navy Preveze-Class and Gür Class Submarines (Type-209/1400) as the lead contractor. Additionally, STM is significantly contributing to the Turkish Navy New Type Submarine Project (Reis Class/Type-214) which features an Air Independent Propulsion System, marking a substantial progression towards realizing the Turkish National Submarine Project. The company has achieved a historic milestone in the project with the inaugural local production of the head section (section 50) that houses the torpedo tubes, placing Türkiye among the select nations globally with such capability. STM’s small-tonnage submarine, STM500, developed with the company’s own resources, is also drawing significant attention from various parts of the globe.
STM NETA: Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicle
STM proudly introduces its Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (AUUV) “STM NETA,” developed using domestic and national resources, for the first time at the SAHA EXPO fair. The primary mission of the STM NETA will be mine detection.
Economical Tactical UAV Solutions for Contemporary Warfare
STM’s tactical mini UAV systems are actively utilized by the Turkish Armed Forces in cross-border and counter-terrorism operations. These systems are favored by more than 10 military forces across three continents, providing cost-effective solutions on the battlefield. Its portfolio also encompasses software engineered for NATO’s intelligence framework, plus responsibilities for the platform cybersecurity of KAAN, Türkiye’s state-of-the-art 5th generation fighter jet.
