Turkish company STM announced it has tested a new model of its KARGU drone, which targets armored vehicles with an armor-piercing warhead.
According to the firm, the drone targeted and destroyed an armored vehicle with a single strike, marking a significant development in the design of rotary-wing loitering munitions.
To improve on the previous version of the KARGU, STM’s addition of an armor-piercing warhead enhanced its capacity against mobile and stationary armored vehicles and robust infrastructure.
The platform has entered service with the Turkish Armed Forces in counter-terrorism operations and cross-border missions.
General Manager of STM Özgür Güleryüz stated that “We have designed a solution that strengthens the position of the Turkish Armed Forces in the field, while also offering considerable appeal in the international market.”
While the machine learning algorithms embedded on the platform allow real-time image processing, the KARGU follows the “Man-in-the-Loop” principle, with full control and responsibility in the hands of the device operator.
The drone has a low radar signature so as not to be detected by enemies, while permitting the identification and transmission of the targets’ reconnaissance information to the operator.
This last feature represents a key advantage for soldiers, who can keep a safe distance to hit their targets, something particularly crucial during asymmetric anti-terrorism operations.