STM will take part in EFES-2026, one of the Turkish Armed Forces’ largest military exercises, with its autonomous swarm UAV systems, national naval platforms and next-generation unmanned technologies.
The exercise is being conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces in Seferihisar, İzmir, with the participation of 45 countries. STM’s combat-proven unmanned systems and naval platforms will actively support different phases of the exercise, while the company will also present its latest technologies at the Defense Industry Exhibition held as part of EFES-2026.
KARGU Swarm to Take the Field
One of STM’s most important contributions to EFES-2026 will be the deployment of the KARGU loitering munition system with autonomous swarm capability.
Powered by artificial intelligence and image-processing-based mission functions, KARGU systems can operate in coordination and conduct simultaneous attacks against designated targets. STM previously demonstrated this capability in January 2026 during a field test in Polatlı, Ankara. In that test, a swarm of 20 KARGU systems, controlled by a single operator and powered by fully indigenous algorithms, struck targets with live ammunition.
KARGU has been in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces since 2018 and has been used in counter-terrorism, special operations and cross-border missions. The system has more than 30 minutes of endurance, a 10 km operational range, day/night EO/IR capability and swarm operation support.
National Warships and Submarines at EFES
STM’s naval platforms will also take part in the exercise.
Various vessels from the MİLGEM ADA-Class Corvette Project, Türkiye’s first national corvette program, are operating during the live-fire phases of EFES-2026. STM served as the lead subcontractor in the project and has delivered four ADA-class corvettes to the Turkish Navy.
Submarines built or modernized with STM’s national and modern systems are also participating in the exercise. This highlights STM’s role not only in surface combatants, but also in Türkiye’s submarine modernization and naval engineering ecosystem.
STM’s Latest Systems on Display
At the Defense Industry Exhibition, STM will showcase a wide range of naval and unmanned solutions to local and international delegations.
The systems on display will include TCG İSTANBUL (F-515), Türkiye’s first national frigate for which STM is the main contractor, Türkiye’s first national fast attack craft, a logistics support vessel and the STM NETA 300 autonomous underwater vehicle.
In the unmanned systems field, STM will present several platforms recently introduced at SAHA-2026. These include the KUZGUN 1,000+ km-range kamikaze UAV, TUNGA-X high-speed drone interceptor capable of reaching 300 km/h, TOGAN-Mini reconnaissance UAV, KarguFPV, TOGAN tactical reconnaissance UAV and KARGU, which is currently operational in 15 countries across four continents.
Strategic Importance
STM’s presence at EFES-2026 reflects Türkiye’s growing focus on autonomous warfare, swarm intelligence and national naval platforms.
The combination of KARGU swarm operations, MİLGEM-class warships, modernized submarines and new-generation unmanned systems shows how STM is expanding from individual platforms toward a broader multi-domain defense capability.
For international military delegations, EFES-2026 provides an opportunity to observe STM’s technologies in an operational exercise environment rather than only in a static exhibition setting.
With its naval platforms and autonomous systems at EFES-2026, STM aims to demonstrate Türkiye’s progress in combat-proven, game-changing national defense technologies.
