The modern warships and tactical mini UAV systems developed by STM will be demonstrating their abilities during the EFES-2024 Exercise

As a key player in the Turkish defence sector, STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş. continues to contribute to the inventories of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) with national technologies with proven success in the battlefield. This year, 11,000 personnel from 50 countries will participate in EFES-2024, Turkey’s largest combined exercise, further extending its continuous successful record in Seferihisar, İzmir.

MILGEM Ada Class Corvettes at EFES-2024
STM’s indigenously equipped naval platforms and tactical mini UAV systems will play active roles in the EFES-2024 Exercise. Taking part at the event will be various MİLGEM Ada-Class vessels – products of Turkey’s first national corvette project in which STM is the lead subcontractor – four of which have been delivered to the Turkish Navy to date. The vessels will fulfil duties in the actual firing area phase of the exercise. TCG PİRİREİS, the first submarine of the Turkish Navy New Type Submarine Project (Type-214) is also taking part in the exercise. STM undertakes important tasks in the construction of Reis Class Submarines. The AY-, PREVEZE- and GÜR-class submarines (Type-209) of the Turkish Navy will bring further strength to the EFES exercise, having been modernised by STM with indigenous and state-of-the-art systems.

The tactical mini UAV systems developed by STM with national capabilities will also be joining the exercise in the hands of TAF.

TCG ISTANBUL and STM500 Submarine to Appear at EFES-2024
A “Defence Industry Exhibition” will be opened on the sidelines of the exercise to introduce the attending local and foreign delegations to the modern national systems that are contributing to the effectiveness and deterrence power of TAF.

The MİLGEM İSTİF-Class Frigate (TCG İSTANBUL) – the product of Türkiye’s first national frigate project in which STM is the designer and main contractor; the STM500, Turkey’s first small-sized national submarine project, and STM MPAC, Multi Purpose Attack Craft, a fast-moving, surface-to-surface guided missile, will all be on display at the STM stand.

From among STM’s tactical mini UAV systems; Türkiye’s first national attack UAV, Combat Proven Rotary Wing Loitering Munition System KARGU, which entered the TAF inventory in 2018 and has been exported to more than 10 countries to date, the ammunition-drop UAV BOYGA, which entered the inventory of the Turkish security forces in 2022 and the surveillance UAV TOGAN, which has been deployed in three countries so far, including Türkiye, and the fixed wing loitering munition system ALPAGU, which achieved export success last year, will be available for scrutiny at the STM stand by the visiting delegations during the exercise.

Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, said: “EFES-2024, the largest combined and joint exercise in our region, will be an opportunity for our heroic army not only to demonstrate its capabilities, but also its effective use of defence products that have been produced with domestic and national means, and for us to introduce them to foreign soldiers from all over the world. Under the leadership of the Turkish Presidency of Secretariat of Defence Industries  (SSB), as STM, we are proud to take our place in the EFES Exercise and empower the TAF with our naval platforms and tactical mini UAV systems.”