STM has unveiled its new loitering munitions as KUZGUN long-range loitering munition, ALPAGU-B tube-launched loitering munition, and quad-engine TIRPAN.
STM has introduced the new members of its line of loitering munitions to bring improved or new capabilities to the table as ALPAGU-B, KUZGUN, and TIRPAN.
ALPAGU-B Fills the Gap Between ALPAGU and ALPAGUT
ALPAGU-B is the new member of STM’s tube-launched loitering munition family as a gap filler between the very light ALPAGU and much larger ALPAGUT.
Weighing 20 kg with a four-kilogram warhead and EO/IR seeker, ALPAGU-B can reach a range of 40 km, which is closer to ALPAGUT’s.
It is understood that ALPAGU-B is meant as a solution for situations where ALPAGU falls short, and ALPAGUT comes too heavy. Some of these situations can be exemplified as use onboard light vehicle types like pickups or UGVs. However, ALPAGU-B is likely to be man-portable but with more burden compared to ALPAGU, designed with this kind of use in mind, with a very small size.
KUZGUN as STM’s Long-Range Option
KUZGUN, previously flight-tested, is STM’s long-reaching hitter with the largest warhead as well.
KUZGUN, weighing 200 kg in total, has a range of 1000+ km with a 20 kg warhead, and can be launched from fixed positions or vehicles through RATO.
The long-range loitering munition can operate in GNSS-denied environments using prescribed flight paths and INS.
TIRPAN as a UAV Operator Hunter
STM has not provided as much detail on TIRPAN, which adopts a rather unique layout with four wings, each with propellers at wingtips.
TIRPAN, according to a deal signed between SSB and STM during SAHA EXPO 2026, will be a fixed-wing counter-operator loitering munition.
This indicates that TIRPAN will feature passive RF homing capabilities by intercepting and locking into signals from UAV operators. STM started its work on the new idea of a retaliatory/pre-emptive kamikaze UAV with the passive RF seeker-fitted variant of its long-standing KARGU quadcopter kamikaze UAV. It can be said that TIRPAN represents a jump in performance thanks to its different layout compared to KARGU.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
