STM Kargu loitering munition

Overview:

The STM-KARGU is a portable, rotary wing attack drone designed to provide tactical ISR and precision strike capabilities for ground troops. According to STM, the platform can perform precision strikes for low signature, beyond line of sight targets.^[1]STM Defence, ‘KARGU’, https://www.stm.com.tr/en/kargu-autonomous-tactical-multi-rotor-attack-uav

STM has been further developing the capabilities of the Kargu, reportedly including facial recognition, as well as increasing the diversity of the payloads the system can use.^[2]{{Daily Sabah, ‘Domestically-developed kamikaze drones to join Turkish army’s inventory as of 2020’, … Continue reading

Autonomy:

The KARGU is ‘capable of performing fully autonomous navigation via STM’s unique flight control system’ and it has an automatic target recognition system. The system ‘can be used against static or moving targets through its domestically developed built-in real-time image processing capabilities and high-performance navigation and control based on machine learning algorithms. It can be operated by a single soldier in autonomous as well as manual modes.’

While STM claims that the system operates according to ‘the man in the loop principle’, a 2021 UN report stated that the Kargu-2 was used in Libya ‘to attack targets without requiring data connectivity between the operator and the munition: in effect, a true “fire, forget and find” capability.’^[3]United Nations Security Council, ‘Letter dated 8 March 2021 from the Panel of Experts on Libya established pursuant to resolution 1973 (2011) addressed to the President of the Security … Continue reading

According to STM, up to 30 Kargu units can operate together in a swarm while being controlled by a single ground control station.^[4]STM Defence, ‘Kargu – The Kamikaze Drones Getting Ready For The Swarm Operation’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d28APIfwSI