Press ReleasesSTM Brings Naval and UAV Power to the Adriatic
STM, one of the leading companies in the Turkish defence industry, will exhibit its naval platforms and tactical mini UAV systems at the Adriatic Sea Defense & Aerospace – ASDA 2025 to be held in Croatia. STM, a reliable partner of navies, has recently drawn attention with its ongoing naval projects for Portugal, Ukraine, and Malaysia.
Having played an important role in Türkiye’s recent breakthrough in the defense industry, STM offers critical solutions in such areas as naval platforms, tactical mini UAV systems and command and control. STM, a subsidiary of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Secretariat of Defence Industries, brings its experience, which has been gained through the company’s efforts to meet Türkiye’s needs, to friendly and allied nations through cooperation and technology transfer.
STM will take part in the ASDA-2025 to be held in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, on April 8-10, 2025, to showcase its naval projects and tactical mini UAV systems in the Adriatic Region.
Türkiye’s National Corvette and Frigate to be Showcased in Croatia
At the exhibition, STM will display a model of Türkiye’s first national frigate TCG İSTANBUL (F-515), which is also the first ship in the MİLGEM İstif-Class project. The national frigate, for which STM is the main contractor, was delivered to the Turkish Navy in 2024. In addition to Türkiye's first national corvette project – the Ada Class MILGEM, Türkiye’s first special operations and attack national submarine project STM500, will also be showcased to the ASDA participants. The unmanned autonomous underwater vehicle STM NETA will be presented to delegations.
Combat Proven Tactical Mini UAV Systems
The company, which has played a pioneering role in Türkiye and the world in the development tactical mini UAVs, will be presenting its KARGU platform at the event, as Türkiye's first national attack UAV. Since its launch, KARGU, which can be equipped with anti-personnel and armour-piercing warheads, has to date been exported to more than 10 countries on three continents. STM will also be displaying its TOGAN Surveillance UAV, which has now entered the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces and is being actively used in the fight against terrorism, as well as achieving remarkable export figures, and its BOYGA ammunition-drop UAV, at ASDA.
Güleryüz: We Aim to Expand Our Exports Across Europe
STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz emphasized that Türkiye’s naval engineering solutions are increasingly preferred on a global scale, stating:
“With our strong engineering capabilities, STM has become a reliable partner for navies across a wide geography, from Europe to the Asia-Pacific. Our export of a logistics support ship for the Portuguese Navy, a NATO and EU member, has received significant attention across Europe. In addition to the two corvettes currently under construction for the Ukrainian Navy, we are proud to have signed Türkiye’s first-ever corvette export to the Asia-Pacific region with the three Ada Class-based corvettes we are building for the Royal Malaysian Navy. Thanks to our flexible engineering approach and cost-effective solutions, we contribute to enhancing defence capacities around the world. As a reflection of these achievements, we are showcasing our modern naval platforms and our combat-proven tactical mini UAV systems, exported to three different continents, at ASDA 2025, a key defence exhibition in the Adriatic region. Through this presence, we aim to further strengthen our partnerships in Europe and continue expanding our exports.”
STM – ASDA- 2025 Booth Information:
Booth No: 1005
Date: 08 - 10 April
Place: Zagreb Arena | Zagreb, Croatia
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Production Aligned with NATO Standards
STM is engaged in collaborations, technology transfer and business development activities in more than 30 countries, from South America to the Far East. As part of its design, construction and modernization activities, STM develops flexible indigenous engineering solutions for the surface and submarine platforms of Türkiye – a NATO member with one of the most active navies in the world – and for the navies of friendly and allied nations, addressing specific needs and ensuring more effective mission performance. The systems successfully used in the field by the Turkish Navy are being exported overseas by STM as quality, affordable and modern engineering solutions. STM, with its long-term service support and indigenously developed weapon systems, makes a difference by offering its products and capabilities to navies of other nations in a way that embargoes cannot affect them.
Türkiye's Naval Engineering Power: Ada Class Corvette
The Turkish Naval Forces is making active use of the four MİLGEM Ada-Class Corvettes manufactured under a project in which STM was the lead subcontractor, undertaking various crucial tasks. Ada Class Corvette can perform all main principal warfare types, namely AAW, ASUW, ASW and EW. She can conduct engagements against surface, air and underwater targets employing both dedicated onboard sensors & weapons and inorganic assets. From advanced weapon and combat systems to state-of-the-art sensors, these corvettes are ready for any mission.
STM, the Choice of the Navies of Many Nations, From Ukraine to Portugal
STM attaches great importance to cost-effectiveness, uninterrupted technical support and knowledge transfer in every project in which it is involved, creating collaborations that will enhance the defense capabilities of nations. STM provides services to the Turkish Navy in the design, construction, and modernization of naval platforms, including the Ada-Class Corvette, İstif-Class Frigate, Logistic Support Ships, fast attack craft, and submarines. As a reliable partner in naval projects, STM is currently constructing two corvettes for Ukraine and three corvettes for Malaysia, while successfully executing a fleet tanker and Agosta 90B Class submarine modernization project for Pakistan.
Most recently, STM signed an agreement to build two Logistic Support Ships for the Portuguese Navy. This project marks Türkiye’s first naval export to a NATO and European Union member country. With their modular design, the ships will be capable of delivering logistical support, transferring fuel and cargo at sea, and enabling joint power transfer. Additionally, they will support amphibious operations with their capacity to carry armored vehicles.
Pioneering Submarine Projects
STM is also undertaking important tasks in the submarine modernization and construction projects of the Turkish Navy. Having successfully modernized two Ay-Class Submarines (Type-209/1200) in the role of main contractor, STM is now involved in the modernization of eight Turkish Navy Preveze-Class and Gür Class Submarines (Type-209/1400) as the lead contractor. STM is also playing a critical role in the Turkish Navy New Type Submarine Project (Reis Class/Type-214) featuring an Air Independent Propulsion System, taking a significant step in the realization of the Turkish National Submarine Project. The company has achieved historic success in the project with the first-time local production of the head section (section 50) that houses the torpedo tubes, adding Türkiye to the short list of countries in the world with such a capability. STM’s small-tonnage submarine named STM500, which was developed with the company’s own resources, also attracts great interest from different parts of the world. STM, unveils its Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (AUUV) “STM NETA”, developed with indigenous and national capabilities, for the first time at the SAHA EXPO fair. STM NETA, developed by STM with its own resources, primary mission will be the detection of mines.
Cost-Effective Tactical UAV Solutions for Modern Warfare
STM's tactical mini UAV systems are actively used by the Turkish Armed Forces in cross-border and counter-terrorism operations. These systems are the choice of more than 10 militaries across three continents, providing cost-effective solutions on the battlefield. Its portfolio also includes software developed for NATO's intelligence infrastructure, as well as responsibilities for the platform cyber security of KAAN, Türkiye's 5th generation fighter jet.
About STM
STM has been serving the Turkish defence sector for the last 33 years in such areas as engineering, technology development and consultancy services, operating in fields that are critical for Türkiye and its allies. It applies its advanced capabilities and technologies to a broad range of strategic fields, ranging from naval platforms to tactical mini UAV systems, from command and control systems to cybersecurity, and from big data analytics to artificial intelligence applications.
