Saha Expo 2026 – STM unveils its Kuzgun long-range loitering munition

Disrupting enemy forces as far as possible from the frontline, destroying command and control capabilities as well as air defence assets, to reduce enemy effectiveness and open up A2/AD bubbles to facilitate air assets penetration, this is the main role of what is usually defined as “Deep Fires”. Among other firsts, at Saha Expo STM Defence Technologies Engineering unveiled its Kuzgun long-range loitering munition, which will add a further capacity to Turkish and allied forces

With a 1,000 km range and a six hours flight time the Kuzgun (raven in English) deserves to be definitely part of deep fires assets. The loitering munition is based on a delta wing configuration airframe with vertical surfaces at the wingtip, the aerodynamically shaped fuselage being mostly blended with the wing itself. The Kuzgun is powered by a two-cylinder internal combustion engine that activates a two-blade propeller allowing a cruise speed of 180 km/h. Mass at launch is 200 kg, of which 40 kg are from the high-explosive fragmentation warhead.

The munition is launched from a ground-based mobile platform using a booster, which makes it independent from runways and easily redeployable. Maximum admissible wind at launch is 10 m/s. It is fitted with a jamming-resistant GNSS/IMS navigation system, no more details being unveiled, that brings the Kuzgun over the target area which grids are loaded prior to the flight via the mission planning system which allows inserting waypoints to follow a pre-programmed path, the line-of-sight datalink having a 60 km range allowing to refine route and target data in the initial phase of the flight. SATCOM link was not mentioned, while no details were provided on the terminal dive guidance system.

Thanks to its performances the Kuzgun provides rapid and effective strike opportunities against cross-border operations and critical targets located behind enemy lines. 

Photos by P. Valpolini