Turkey’s STM has signed its first European export contract for the KARGU and ALPAGU loitering munition systems with an unnamed NATO and EU member state. The agreement goes beyond platform delivery, covering operational deployment, integration onto armored vehicles, and development of battle management and combat management software. This positions STM as a systems integrator capable of aligning unmanned weapons with existing doctrines and command-and-control structures. Both systems are already in service with Turkish security forces. KARGU, inducted in 2018, supports swarm operations and GNSS-denied missions, while ALPAGU provides lightweight, precision strike capability across land, naval, and air platforms. STM views the European deal as a reference for future NATO adoption, building on Turkey’s expanding defense footprint in Europe, including Baykar’s TB2 sale to Poland and ASELSAN’s electronics contracts.
