Advancements Made in Drones Navigating Without GPS, as Per Report Regarding STM's Progress in Swarm Technology
In a significant breakthrough for the Turkish defense industry, STM, a leading defense giant, has made significant advancements in GPS-free Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems and swarm technology capabilities. This progress, primarily demonstrated through the KERKES project, has positioned STM as a key player in the development of autonomous navigation systems for UAVs.
The KERKES project, officially known as the Global Positioning System Independent Autonomous Navigation System Development Project, has been integrated into various UAV platforms, allowing drones to operate effectively in GPS-denied environments where GNSS signals may be jammed or unavailable.
KERKES enables mini/micro class UAVs to perform navigation, location estimation, object recognition, and mission execution without relying on GPS. This is achieved through sophisticated computer vision techniques and artificial intelligence algorithms. The technology supports both rotary-wing (multi-rotor) and fixed-wing UAVs, allowing them to operate effectively in day and night conditions even when GPS is suppressed.
STM's drones with KERKES are considered among the most successful systems capable of GPS-free flight currently available, following extensive and intensive testing. The company is expanding these capabilities through the BUMIN project, which aims to enable mission sharing and swarm operation concepts across different platforms.
The BUMIN project focuses on developing central/distributed communication infrastructure, UAV-to-UAV communication, formation capability, targeting and prioritization, target sharing, ability to sense and avoid, rotation capability, swarm attack, and guidance ability. This project builds on the swarm technology developed by STM's KARGU drones.
STM's General Manager, Ozgur Guleryuz, announced these advancements, highlighting the importance of KERKES for environments without GPS. He also emphasized the company's focus on producing cost-effective drones that can be used in GPS-denied environments and operate cooperatively as swarms, leveraging deep learning and advanced engineering solutions.
STM's international export achievements continue to grow, with several STM products already in inventory and exported globally. The company sees serious potential in the expanding opportunities within the tactical UAV market, which is gaining increasing importance globally. STM continues to work on increasing both the capabilities and product variety of its already exported products, with a commitment to continuously increase the engineering contribution to its work.
These advancements underscore STM's leadership in the development of cutting-edge UAV technology, particularly in the areas of autonomous navigation and swarm operations. The company's success in this domain is further evidenced by its strategic partnerships, such as the two recently signed in Malaysia at the LIMA 2025 exhibition.
[1] Information sourced from STM's official website and press releases.
- The KERKES project, a significant project by STM, has made it possible for Turkish-made UAVs to operate effectively without relying on Global Positioning System (GPS) signals, exemplified by the successful GPS-free flight demonstrated by STM's drones.
- In Ankara, Turkish Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recognized the importance of STM's advancements in technology, particularly in GPS-free UAV systems and swarm technology, as it positions the nation as a key player in autonomous navigation system development for UAVs.
- STM's continued focus on technology development extends beyond UAVs, with the company working on expanding capabilities through the BUMIN project, aiming to enhance cooperation among drones for sports applications, such as drone racing or surveillance during major events in Turkey and around the world.
