Turkish defense‑industry platform manufacturer STM announced a strategic capability added to its portfolio. The company shared footage of the first test flight of the Long‑Range Kamikaze UAV, the newest and largest member of the Kamikaze UAV family.
Operational Concept and Goals
While bearing similarities to Iran’s Shahed‑136, the new system differs in its technological base and precision‑strike capability. It aims to strengthen Turkey’s deep‑strike (deep strike) capacity. The UAV is assessed to have an approximate range of 2,000 km.
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STM’s new platform, with its low‑cost production structure and long‑range advantage, addresses critical needs of the asymmetric‑warfare arena. It is expected to play an effective role in missions such as:
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Destruction of fixed deep‑strike targets
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Suppression of enemy air‑defence systems (SEAD)
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Cutting logistical lines
Experience and Development
The project builds on STM’s experience with the KARGU (rotary‑wing kamikaze UAV) and ALPAGU (fixed‑wing kamikaze UAV), which are already in the inventories of the Turkish Armed Forces and foreign customers.
Low Radar Cross‑Section (RCS) Design
The new kamikaze UAV is optimized for a low radar cross‑section (RCS) based on its airframe. Its delta‑wing design provides long‑duration flight. Equipped with electronic‑warfare‑protected GNSS and an electro‑optical seeker head, the system is expected to deliver high strike accuracy.
Successes of STM’s Rotary‑Weapon Family
STM holds a global track record in this field. KARGU, used in counter‑terrorism operations and conventional conflicts worldwide, is one of the first rotary‑wing kamikaze UAVs with AI‑enabled object‑recognition capability. Thousands have been produced and exported to more than ten countries, and newer versions are being developed with swarm‑operation capability.
Domestic “Kargu FPV”
The fixed‑wing kamikaze UAV ALPAGU has been added to various users’ inventories. Development work continues on ALPAGUT, a longer‑range variant of ALPAGU.
