STM has officially debuted TENGİZ, the largest member of its Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Family, at SAHA-2026. Positioned as an Extra Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (XLUUV), TENGİZ is set to become a force multiplier in maritime defense with its flexible mission profile, heavy torpedo launch capability, smart loitering munition integration, and advanced autonomous features.
STM press release
STM Savunma Teknolojileri Mühendislik ve Ticaret A.Ş., a prominent global player in naval and autonomous systems, is elevating its extensive maritime heritage to the next level through cutting-edge unmanned platforms. Developed entirely through STM’s internal R&D, the TENGİZ Extra Large Autonomous Unmanned Underwater Vehicle has been introduced to the global market at SAHA 2026 Fair, boasting an operational depth exceeding 400 meters and an endurance of over 20 days.
Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, stated that the company is merging its naval engineering expertise with advanced autonomous technologies to develop disruptive platforms for maritime security: “Our journey in autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles began with the high-precision STM NETA 300. 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.”
Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM
An Invisible Sentinel of the Depths
Named after the Old Turkic word for ‘sea’ and ‘vast waters,’ 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).
High Endurance: 20+ Days at 400 Meters Depth
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. Its advanced system architecture and high-capacity energy units enable persistent, uninterrupted operations for more than 20 days without external support.
