Turkey’s defense firm STM has secured its first European export contract for the KARGU rotary-wing and ALPAGU fixed-wing loitering munition systems, marking a significant milestone for Turkish autonomous weapons in a NATO and EU member state. Although the customer has not been disclosed, the deal represents STM’s entry into Europe’s operational loitering munition market.
Under the agreement, the KARGU and ALPAGU systems will be fielded operationally and integrated onto armored land vehicles, expanding STM’s role beyond platform supply into software-driven battlefield integration. The program also includes work on battle management systems and combat management software, positioning STM as a systems integrator rather than a hardware-only vendor.
STM said it will work closely with the European customer to ensure the systems are aligned with existing military doctrine, command-and-control networks, and operational platforms. The effort is intended to support broader integration across additional land vehicles following initial deployment, signaling a long-term partnership rather than a one-time sale.
Both loitering munitions are already in service with Turkish security forces. KARGU, inducted in 2018, has been used in counterterrorism and cross-border missions and supports swarm operations and GNSS-denied environments. ALPAGU is a lightweight precision-strike system designed for rapid engagement of high-value targets and can be deployed from land, naval, and air platforms. STM noted that its unmanned systems are now used in 15 countries across four continents, with the European deal expected to serve as a reference for future NATO deployments.
