# Turkish Kargu strike UAV attracts Africa’s attention

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2022/10/turkish-kargu-strike-uav-attracts-africas-attention/
- Published: 2022-10-17T10:57:07+01:00
- Author: Ekene Lionel

Following its appearance at the Africa Aerospace and Defense (AAD) show in South
Africa on 21-25 September, several African delegates were captivated by the capability
of the Turkish-made Kargu quadcopter strike UAV.

Built for asymmetric warfare and counterinsurgencies as an ISR or loitering munition
platform, Kargu is relatively new as it only entered service in the Turkish forces
four years ago. During AAD, the Turkish company reported visits to its booth by 
African, Asian, and South American delegates.

[The Turkish STM disclosed during the AAD 2022](https://www.military.africa/2022/09/turkeys-stm-exhibits-naval-platforms-and-tactical-mini-uav-systems-at-aad-2022/)
that it is working with more than 20 countries in the area of technology transfer
and business development activities, from South America to the Far East. “As part
of its design, construction and modernization activities, STM produces flexible 
indigenous engineering solutions for the surface and submarine platforms of Turkey–
a NATO member with one of the most active navies in the world – and for the navies
of friendly and allied nations, addressing specific needs and ensuring more effective
mission performance,” the company said.

According to STM, THE KARGU®️ is a portable, rotary-wing attack drone designed to
provide tactical ISR and precision strike capabilities for ground troops. KARGU®️
is capable of performing fully autonomous navigation vis STM’s unique flight control
system. In addition, the platform is able to perform precision strikes for low signature,
beyond-line-of-sight targets.

> [World in shock as “killer drone” hunts and kill on its own](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/world-in-shock-as-killer-drone-hunts-and-kill-on-its-own/)

The UAV has generated a bit of controversy in recent times, when the “killer drone”
acted on its own without human intervention, “hunted down” and killed a human target
in Libya without being instructed to do so.

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In the incident, a [KARGU-2 quadcopter drone manufactured by autonomously attacked Libyan National Army (LNA) personnel during a conflict.](https://www.military.africa/2021/05/world-in-shock-as-killer-drone-hunts-and-kill-on-its-own/)

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Ozgur Guleruz, general manager of the Turkish company STM, spoke to reporters in
the Azerbaijani capital Baku. He said that the company he manages is currently being
asked by 20 countries to buy KARGU Rotary Wing Strike UAVs.

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_“Negotiations for the sale of KARGU continue with more than 20 countries. This 
is very likely to happen. Today, every military environment shows that the need 
for UAVs will increase,” _Guleruz told reporters, adding that the company is currently
developing different versions of the drone. _“We have integrated the RF search engine
developed by STM into KARGU. We are working on KARGU armour munitions, we expect
them to be completed very soon and we will start testing.”_

The Kargu is already used effectively by the Turkish Armed Forces in the field.

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