Ankara: Turkish defense firm STM unveiled its latest naval projects at the ongoing TEKNOFEST Blue Homeland event, including Trkiye's highly anticipated domestically developed fast attack craft. STM General Manager Ozgur Guleryuz told Anadolu that the company plans to launch the project's first prototype by the end of this year or early next year, after which outfitting work will begin.

According to Anadolu Agency, the production of seven more Istif-class frigates for the Turkish Navy is continuing at a very intense pace, with plans to complete construction and testing as soon as possible. Guleryuz, speaking on the sidelines of the event, highlighted STM's expansion in the unmanned underwater systems sector, combining military maritime expertise with tactical unmanned aerial vehicle experience from the Kargu drone program.

The company's autonomous underwater vehicle, Neta, has entered mass production and will be followed by new underwater systems for missions such as mine hunting and search and rescue. STM's export activities are also progressing rapidly, with recent launches of three corvettes for Malaysia under the Littoral Mission Ship Batch 2 project for the Royal Malaysian Navy, completed in record time.

Additionally, STM has completed the first vessel under a Ukrainian naval project, with the delivery of the second scheduled for 2027. The firm is also expanding its presence in European markets, preparing for a keel-laying ceremony for a second replenishment and logistics support ship for the Portuguese Navy.

Guleryuz emphasized STM's work in many countries on various platforms, adapting and developing solutions tailored to each client's operational requirements by leveraging the company's engineering capabilities. He expressed optimism about sharing further news regarding exports in the near future.