STM has introduced TENGİZ, the largest member of its Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicle family, for the first time at SAHA EXPO 2026.
Positioned in the Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle category, TENGİZ is designed to become a major force multiplier in maritime defense with its long endurance, deep-water operating capability, autonomous mission architecture and multi-role payload options.
Developed through STM’s internal R&D resources, TENGİZ reflects the company’s growing ambition to combine its military naval engineering experience with advanced autonomous systems. The platform was unveiled at the Istanbul Expo Center as part of SAHA EXPO 2026.
A New Autonomous Power for the Blue Homeland
STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz stated that the company first began its autonomous underwater vehicle journey with the STM NETA 300 and is now expanding the family with medium and large-class systems.
According to Güleryüz, TENGİZ stands out as the most capable member of this family. He emphasized that the platform can perform many critical missions normally carried out by conventional submarines, without putting personnel at risk.
TENGİZ is designed for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, anti-submarine warfare, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, seabed mapping, critical underwater infrastructure inspection and offensive mine warfare.
Mothership Concept for Underwater Operations
One of the most important features of TENGİZ is its “mothership” architecture.
The platform can carry and deploy STM’s smaller NETA 300 autonomous underwater vehicle and the ALPAGUT smart loitering munition system from underwater. It can also launch heavy and very light torpedoes, giving it both reconnaissance and strike capabilities in the same platform family.
TENGİZ is integrated into network-centric warfare through the ADVENT Command and Control architecture. The system can also transfer data through satellite communication, supporting coordination with wider naval operations.
Compatible with TCG ANADOLU and Logistics Platforms
TENGİZ was designed with strategic mobility in mind.
Its dimensions are compatible with a 40-foot ISO container, allowing easier transport and deployment. The platform can be launched and recovered from port facilities, logistics support vessels or well-deck ships such as TCG ANADOLU.
This gives the system flexibility for long-range deployments and multi-domain naval operations.
TENGİZ Technical Specifications
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Category | Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle |
| Length | 11.2 m |
| Diameter | 1.6 m |
| Displacement | 17.8 tons |
| Operating Depth | 400+ m |
| Maximum Speed | 8+ knots |
| Endurance | 20+ days |
Strategic Importance
TENGİZ is significant because it brings Türkiye into a more advanced category of unmanned underwater systems.
With its long endurance, deep operating capability, modular payload structure and autonomous mission profile, the platform can support both defensive and offensive maritime missions.
For Türkiye’s Blue Homeland strategy, TENGİZ offers a new unmanned layer beneath the surface. It can help monitor critical underwater infrastructure, support anti-submarine operations, conduct seabed mapping and provide new strike options without exposing personnel or conventional submarines to unnecessary risk.
With TENGİZ, STM is expanding its autonomous systems portfolio from tactical UAVs and smaller underwater vehicles into strategic underwater platforms that could reshape future naval operations.
