Debut for STM’s TENGİZ XLUUV, YAKTU KUSV

STM unveiled TENGİZ, the largest member of its Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Family, and YAKTU, a Swarm Kamikaze Unmanned Surface Vehicle (KUSV) on the third day of the ongoing SAHA-2026.

Positioned as an Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), TENGİZ is set to become a game-changing force multiplier in maritime defense with its flexible mission profile, heavy torpedo launch capability, smart loitering munition integration, and advanced autonomous features.

TENGİZ offers a multi-purpose operational structure to meet the core requirements of underwater warfare. The platform performs Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions, as well as target-tracking and barrier-patrol duties within the scope of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). Additionally, TENGİZ is utilized for Electronic Warfare (EW), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), and seabed mapping. It plays a critical role in to inspect underwater infrastructure and can conduct offensive mine warfare by deploying mines in designated transit routes.

Equipped to launch both heavy and very light torpedoes, TENGİZ operates with a "mothership" architecture, capable of housing and deploying the STM NETA 300 autonomous underwater vehicle and the ALPAGUT smart loitering munition system from depth. Integrated into the network-centric warfare concept via the ADVENT Command and Control system, the platform ensures seamless data transmission through satellite communication (SATCOM). Compatible with 40-foot ISO container dimensions, TENGİZ offers superior strategic mobility, allowing for autonomous deployment from port facilities, logistics support vessels, or well-deck-equipped ships such as the TCG ANADOLU (LHD).

Belonging to the Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV) category, TENGİZ features a length of 11.2 meters, a diameter of 1.6 meters, and a displacement of 17.8 tons. Capable of operating at depths exceeding 400 meters, the platform reaches speeds of over 8 knots.

"Our journey in autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles began with the high-precision STM NETA 300," said Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, "Following the successful completion of NETA 300's sea trials, we are now expanding this family with new medium and large-class members. TENGİZ stands out as the largest and most capable platform in this lineup.

"It is engineered to execute nearly all critical missions typically performed by conventional submarines—ranging from intelligence and mine warfare to torpedo engagement—all while operating autonomously and eliminating risks to human personnel. With its 'mothership' concept and immense payload capacity, TENGİZ solidifies our technological standing in the subsurface domain."

YAKTU KUSV

Engineered to meet the asymmetric demands of today’s operational environments, ranging from port protection to open-sea engagements, the STM YAKTU KUSV delivers high-lethality performance through indigenous engineering and a speed exceeding 50 knots.

"This is more than a high-speed strike platform; it is a strategic force multiplier powered by AI-enabled autonomous architecture and swarm capabilities," said Güleryüz. "By enabling coordinated multi-unit operations, the YAKTU can overwhelm defense systems through multi-vector engagements, offering a cost-effective, high-precision solution for penetrating modern defense layers. We remain committed to advancing autonomous technologies to the highest standards for global maritime security."

Optimized for precision strike missions against strategic surface targets, YAKTU features a compact 5.8-meter-long platform designed to minimize detectability. With a maximum speed exceeding 50 knots, the system enables rapid engagement of maneuvering surface targets. Its operational range exceeds 200 nautical miles, providing an extended operational envelope for diverse mission profiles. The platform’s defining capability its swarm intelligence enables real-time data sharing and autonomous task allocation among multiple units. Developed with indigenous hardware and software architecture, YAKTU ensures uninterrupted network-centric warfare operations through both Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Satellite Communication (SATCOM), maintaining operational superiority in contested environments.