Turkey Develops Kamikaze Drone with Anti-Radar Homing Capability

Turkish defense company STM has equipped its KARGU strike kamikaze drone with an anti-radiation homing head, enabling it to automatically target enemy radar systems.

Turkish defense outlet Savunma Sanayi ST reported the development.

“The first demonstrations have been done. We believe that sales will take place very soon. We estimate that we will gain great competence in terms of changing the rules of the game and solving certain problems in the field. In addition to this competence, exports for KARGU continue very intensively,” STM CEO Özgür Gülerüz stated in an interview with the publication.

According to the publication, integrating the passive radar seeker brings a new level of capability to drone operations. The seeker detects emissions from systems such as air defense radars. These targets were previously the domain of costly anti-radiation missiles but can now be engaged by the more affordable KARGU platform.

STM has also recently integrated an anti-tank warhead into the KARGU drone, which was previously used only in anti-personnel roles. The drone is currently exported to more than 10 countries, with thousands of units delivered, the report notes.

A similar system was recently spotted in a video from Ukraine, featuring an FPV drone capable of detecting and engaging electronic warfare (EW) systems.

The Ukrainian drone is equipped with a signal receiver that identifies radiation sources across 12 frequency bands and estimates their distance based on signal strength. Directional antennas help determine the source’s location.

Data from the detection module is transmitted to the drone operator’s console through the flight controller. The system acts as a targeting aid, allowing the pilot to manually locate and engage EW systems based on the data.

The system is primarily designed to detect and neutralize trench-based electronic suppression systems that interfere with FPV drones near the front line. It can also help locate other high-value targets equipped with airborne EW systems.

Drones using this technology retain the ability to carry a warhead, enabling them to strike once a target is located.

Russian Telegram channels that shared the test footage have claimed similar drones have been deployed on the battlefield in recent months.

If such drones are paired with fiber-optic guidance, they could provide a highly effective and resilient solution for neutralizing EW systems without being susceptible to electronic countermeasures.