STM has unveiled a new counter-drone interceptor platform, the TUNGA-X, during the SAHA 2026 exhibition in Türkiye.
The system was developed to counter low-cost unmanned aerial threats, including loitering munitions and kamikaze drones, which have become increasingly common in modern conflicts. According to STM, the interceptor is designed to operate in coordination with UAS detection radars and engage hostile drones in flight.
The TUNGA-X uses a multirotor vertical take-off and landing configuration and supports both manual and autonomous flight modes. STM said the platform incorporates AI-enabled autonomy and image-processing-based autonomous target tracking to support engagements against airborne threats.
Once a target is detected by radar, the system is designed to rapidly move toward the estimated threat corridor before using onboard day and night electro-optical and infrared sensors to identify the target and engage it using a proximity-fuzed detonation mechanism.
Focus on autonomous and cost-effective interception
STM General Manager Özgür Güleryüz said the system was developed in response to the increasing use of inexpensive attack drones against military positions and critical infrastructure:
“Today, the threat posed by low-cost yet high-impact fixed-wing loitering munitions against critical infrastructure has necessitated a new chapter in our defense strategies,” Güleryüz said.
“Intercepting such threats with significantly more expensive air defense missiles does not offer a sustainable cost-management model. This is precisely where TUNGA-X comes into play. Capable of reaching high speeds of approximately 300 km/h, operating in conjunction with radar, and neutralizing targets mid-air, this interceptor drone system provides users with both technological and cost-effective advantages against asymmetric threats.”
He added: “At STM, we are proud to transition our deep-rooted expertise in autonomous systems into the counter-UAS domain.”
Designed for flexible deployment
STM said the interceptor can launch from confined spaces or mobile platforms and includes a mission-cancel capability that allows the drone to safely return if an engagement is aborted. The modular architecture is intended to support integration across different operational platforms and environments.
The published specifications list a maximum speed of 300 km/h, a flight endurance of 15 minutes, an operational range of 25 kilometers and a ceiling of 5,000 meters above ground level. The system supports both GNSS-guided and optical guidance attack modes.
The launch reflects growing industry interest in lower-cost interceptor drones and autonomous counter-UAS technologies as militaries look for alternatives to using traditional air defense missiles against inexpensive aerial threats.
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Post Image Credit: STM
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