Swarm UAVs & Naval Platforms Feature at EFES 2026

STM is participating in EFES-2026, one of the Turkish Armed Forces’ largest joint military exercises, with autonomous swarm systems, unmanned technologies and indigenous naval platforms. The exercise, held in Seferihisar, İzmir from 16–21 May 2026 with participation from dozens of countries, serves as a testing environment for operational defence technologies and an exhibition platform for international military delegations.

Autonomous swarm capability demonstrated through loitering munitions
STM’s KARGU loitering munition system will demonstrate autonomous swarm operations during EFES-2026. The system combines artificial intelligence and image-processing algorithms to enable multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to coordinate missions and engage targets simultaneously under a single operator’s supervision.

The swarm capability follows a January 2026 field test in Polatlı, Ankara, where 20 KARGU systems autonomously conducted live-fire engagement against designated targets using indigenous algorithms. According to STM, the demonstration represented the first known live-fire swarm operation involving coordinated autonomous loitering munitions.

Swarm UAV architectures are increasingly relevant in modern defence systems because they distribute mission execution across multiple platforms, reducing vulnerability to single-point failure and enabling saturation tactics against defended targets.

Indigenous naval platforms support live-fire military operations
Naval systems associated with Türkiye’s MİLGEM Ada-Class Corvette programme are participating in live-fire phases of EFES-2026. STM serves as lead subcontractor within the indigenous corvette programme and has delivered four corvettes to the Turkish Navy.

Submarines upgraded with indigenous STM systems and platforms linked to submarine construction projects are also participating in operational phases of the exercise. The inclusion of surface and underwater platforms highlights integrated naval capability development across Türkiye’s defence ecosystem.

Defence exhibition includes frigates, underwater vehicles and interceptors
At the Defence Industry Exhibition organised within EFES-2026, STM is displaying multiple naval and unmanned platforms, including TCG İSTANBUL (F-515), Türkiye’s first national frigate for which STM acts as main contractor, a national fast attack craft concept, logistics support vessels and the STM NETA 300 autonomous underwater vehicle.

The exhibition also includes systems introduced earlier at SAHA-2026, including:

TOGAN tactical reconnaissance UAV
KARGU loitering munition, reported to be operational in 15 countries across four continents

These systems reflect increasing emphasis on autonomous defence technologies, counter-UAV systems and multi-domain battlefield integration.

EFES-2026 provides operational validation environment
EFES is held biennially in Seferihisar, İzmir and incorporates amphibious operations, air assaults, reconnaissance activities, coordinated fire support and live-fire scenarios involving land, air and naval forces. The exercise also functions as an international exhibition platform for defence manufacturers to demonstrate operational technologies to foreign delegations. EFES-2026 ran from 16–21 May 2026 at the Doğanbey exercise area in İzmir.

STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz stated that deployment of autonomous KARGU swarms during EFES-2026 reflects the company’s progress in developing operational autonomous systems supporting defence forces.

Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals editor, assisted by AI.

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