Türkiye’s defence sector is not merely keeping pace with global trends—it is determined to set them. Ozgur Guleryuz, General Manager of STM, the defence firm behind Türkiye’s first frigate and the lethal KARGU drones, made this ambition clear during an exclusive interview with TRT World at TEKNOFEST 2025, the world’s largest aviation, space, and technology festival. “We do not want to catch the technology that already exists. We really want to go ahead, maybe even create new technologies and start the race at the top,” Guleryuz declared. His vision underscores a bold shift in Türkiye’s defence strategy, moving beyond imitation to innovation.
STM’s achievements—from building Türkiye’s first national frigate, the TCG Istanbul, to developing the indigenous KARGU loitering munition drones—have positioned the company as a leader in defence engineering. The firm’s success extends beyond national borders, including exporting the first warship to Europe and supplying intelligence software to NATO. Guleryuz’s remarks reflect a broader ambition to leverage these accomplishments as a springboard for technological dominance. “We have the engineering capability, we have the technological potential, we know what we can do. But we will always try to aim to be the best, to create new technologies and to drive the defence technology all over the world,” he said.
This drive for innovation is not limited to military applications. At TEKNOFEST 2025, STM organised the World Drone Cup, a competition that drew 32 pilots from 26 countries to showcase drones they designed and assembled themselves. For Guleryuz, the event is a critical platform for nurturing young talent and fostering global collaboration. “Since the beginning of TEKNOFEST, we have been organising the World Drone Cup. It’s really critical for us because technology is very important for our future, and TEKNOFEST aims to trigger the interest in youth about new technologies,” he explained.
The competition serves as more than just a showcase—it’s an ecosystem for learning and exchange. “Bringing 32 competitors from 26 countries and making them work in the same place, they make the drones by themselves and then they compete, so they learn from each other,” Guleryuz said. The festival also included interactive experiences, such as FPV drone simulations and digital games, designed to engage and educate the next generation of engineers. “The young generation is much more interested in technologies like drones, cybersecurity, and software. We have introduced some interactive games so that they do something with the new technologies—they can learn from the process, and then they can use all this information in much bigger projects,” he added.
As Türkiye continues to push the boundaries of defence technology, STM’s initiatives at TEKNOFEST 2025 highlight a dual commitment: advancing military capabilities while inspiring the innovators of tomorrow. By fostering global collaboration and nurturing young talent, the country is not just shaping its own future—it’s redefining the global defence landscape.