STM completes ALPAGU loitering munition deliveries

STM has completed domestic deliveries of the STM ALPAGU loitering munition, a sub‑2kg, single‑soldier, fixed‑wing strike UAV now entering Türkiye’s inventory after acceptance tests. The milestone strengthens tactical precision‑strike options with day/night EO/IR sensing, AI‑assisted target tracking and MIL‑STD‑331 compliant safety features [1][2].

Key Facts

Date: 24 October 2025 — acceptance tests completed; domestic deliveries announced [1].
Endurance / Range: ~15 minutes; 8 km line‑of‑sight [2].
Weight: < 2 kg; single‑soldier, tube‑launched setup <1 minute [1][2].
Sensors: EO/IR; AI‑assisted image processing; man‑in‑the‑loop control [1][2].
Standards & safety: MIL‑STD‑331 compliant; proximity fuze; mission abort & self‑destruct [1].
Multi‑domain integration: land/sea/air platform integration; mesh‑link multi‑mission control [1].
Export track record: first export in 2023 before domestic induction [1][3].

Context and what’s new

STM confirmed on 24 October 2025 that ALPAGU had completed domestic deliveries following successful acceptance tests, joining Türkiye’s inventory as a fixed‑wing, precision loitering munition [1]. The system combines a compact airframe, EO/IR payloads and AI‑enabled image processing to prosecute time‑sensitive targets while maintaining man‑in‑the‑loop authority for positive control [1][2].

Technical profile and employment

ALPAGU’s mission envelope centres on rapid, single‑operator deployment, allowing a dismounted unit to launch within approximately one minute and achieve an 8 km LOS link with ~15 minutes of endurance [1][2]. The platform carries a ~270 g warhead optimised for anti‑personnel effects, with a low radar cross‑section and quiet operation to reduce detectability until terminal impact [2]. Safety and reliability are underpinned by MIL‑STD‑331 compliant electronic fuzing, mission abort and self‑destruct functions [1].

Beyond dismounted use, STM highlights multi‑launch and multi‑mission control via a network‑based architecture (mesh link), enabling simultaneous tasking from a single ground station and integration across land, naval and air platforms for combined‑arms effects [1].

Programme and market outlook

ALPAGU recorded its first export in 2023 ahead of local induction [3], signalling maturing supply‑chain and sustainment readiness. For Türkiye’s forces, the capability complements rotary‑wing loitering assets (e.g., KARGU family) and multi‑rotor ISR/strike systems (TOGAN, BOYGA), tightening the kill‑chain from sensor to effector at the tactical edge [2]. In the export market, ALPAGU’s sub‑2 kg class, single‑soldier portability and compliance with widely used military test standards position it for users seeking precision effects in counter‑terrorism, cross‑border operations and urban warfare [1][4].

Implications / Next

Near‑term priorities include scaling production lots, expanding multi‑domain carriage options and validating swarm‑adjacent CONOPS under mesh control. Interoperability with common ground control and battle‑management systems will shape how quickly units field ALPAGU at platoon‑to‑battalion levels. Watch for additional export announcements and live‑fire demonstrations in joint exercises through late 2025–2026 [1][4].