The STM500 submarine, Türkiye’s first special operations and attack national submarine, is designed and developed entirely by STM engineers. The pressure hull’s successful test section production began in June 2022 and completed in 2023, including quality testing processes, at TEKFEN İmalat ve Mühendislik A.Ş. under STM supervision.
Showcasing the pressure hull at the SAHA EXPO Fair, STM has solidified its role as a pioneer in national submarine production. General Manager of STM, Özgür Güleryüz, highlighted the milestone, stating, “We set out to design a national submarine as a result of the experience acquired from the construction and modernisation projects that we have carried out for the Navies of Türkiye and Pakistan… We have now come to the point where we have successfully produced the first test block using national resources, demonstrating the ability of the Turkish defence sector to indigenously develop such sections for a naval submarine.”
The STM500 project is being closely monitored by navies around the world, especially those with operations in shallow waters due to its strategic capabilities. Güleryüz pointed out the submarine’s potential, saying, “Representatives of the navies of various countries… are closely following the development of the STM500. Our aim is to equip the STM500 with the national combat systems technologies being produced by Turkish defence companies, thus demonstrating the power of Turkish naval engineering.”
The STM500 is engineered to operate effectively in both shallow and deep waters, equipped for a wide range of missions including reconnaissance, surveillance, and special forces operations. It can perform missions for 30 days, accommodating an eight-person Special Forces team alongside its 22-person crew, at depths over 200 metres.
With a length of 49 metres and a beam of 4.6 metres, the submarine has a submerged displacement of 700 tons. It will be armed with eight heavy-weight torpedoes and guided missiles, featuring four ready-to-fire torpedo tubes. Optional integration of an Air-Independent Propulsion System (AIP) will allow the STM500 to remain submerged for extended periods without surfacing.
STM has played a significant role in Türkiye’s submarine projects, including modernising Ay-Class submarines and leading the ongoing modernisation of Preveze-Class submarines. The company has also served as the main contractor for modernising Pakistan’s Agosta 90B Khalid-class submarines, with two already completed and the third underway.
STM’s involvement in the Reis Class submarines project further exemplifies its engineering excellence. The company has successfully indigenised and delivered “Section 50,” a crucial part housing the torpedo tubes, an achievement matched by only a few countries globally. STM continues to contribute to the modernisation and enhancement of Türkiye’s naval defence capabilities, reinforcing its strategic importance in global defence collaborations.
