Turkish company STM starts pressure hull test production phase of STM500 submarine.

STM, which has broken new grounds in the production of military naval platforms in Türkiye, has launched production of the STM500 submarine – designed by Turkish engineers – with the test production of the pressure hull. Under the auspices of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), STM Savunma Teknolojileri ve Mühendislik A.Ş. – a leading actor in Turkey's defence industry initiative – has taken a historic step in Türkiye's national submarine production effort to "develop the necessary industrial infrastructure for the design and construction of military submarines with national resources".
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The small-sized national submarine STM500, as a product of Turkish engineers, is designed to operate both in brown waters and in blue waters. (Picture source: STM)

Designed entirely by STM engineers using national resources, the STM500 submarine project has entered the pressure hull test production phase. This will mark the first time a private company in Türkiye has manufactured the pressure hull of a military submarine. The indigenous and national STM500 submarine has been designed considering also the needs of friendly and allied nations and will be integrated with the most up-to-date features.
Demir: STM500 will be equipped with modern warfare systems.

Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir, President of Defence Industries (SSB), announced the launch of the first stage in the production of the STM500 on his social media account with the following statements: “Historic step in our national submarine adventure! We are starting production of the STM500 submarine, which has been designed by Turkish engineers with national resources, with the test production of the pressure hull. The STM500 is designed to operate both in blue waters and brown waters. The STM500 will be equipped with advanced and modern warfare systems, and shall contain the necessary equipment for all tactical functions, such as reconnaissance and surveillance, special forces operations and submarine warfare.
Güleryüz: STM500 has high export potential.

Özgür Güleryüz, General Manager of STM, said, “As the first engineering company in Türkiye to gain the capacity to build and modernize submarines, we have reached another historic milestone. We are proud to be launching the pressure hull test production of our STM500 submarine, as an outcome of our national engineering works. I congratulate all of my teammates who have contributed to our STM500 submarine, which has high export potential, and thank our President of Defence Industries Prof. Dr. İsmail Demir for his support.”

Uninterrupted deployment for 30 days

The small-sized national submarine STM500, as a product of Turkish engineers, is designed to operate both in brown waters and in blue waters. The STM500 will be equipped with advanced and modern warfare systems, and shall be integrated with the necessary equipment to satisfy global tactical needs such as reconnaissance and surveillance, special forces operations, and submarine warfare operations. The STM500 will be able to perform missions of all kinds for 30 days with an 8 special-forces team in addition to its 18 crew. The platform will be armed with 8 heavy torpedoes and guided missiles, with 4 ready-to-fire torpedo tubes.

The STM500 is attracting considerable interest abroad, and various negotiations have been launched. Türkiye, in particular STM, continues its work in the strategic submarine technologies field, as well as in aviation and space technologies, under the leadership of SSB and with the participation of domestic industries.

STM500 submarine specifications

Capabilities
In addition to meeting all the requirements of a conventional submarine, STM500 will also meet the requirements of special forces operations.
Diving depth: 250+ meters
Endurance: 30 days
Main Dimensions
Overall Length: 42.0 metres
Diameter: 4.2 metres
Height: 8.5 metres
Displacement
On the surface: 450 tons
Submerged: 540 tons
Maximum submerged speed: 18 knots
Patrol speed: 5 knots

Pioneering projects in submarine platforms

As part of its design, construction and modernisation activities, STM is producing indigenous and flexible engineering solutions for the surface and submarine platforms of the Turkish Navy and those of friendly and allied nations, aiming to address specific needs and to ensure more effective mission performance.

Undertaking crucial tasks in the submarine modernisation and construction projects of the Turkish Navy, STM successfully completed the Modernisation of two AY-Class Submarines as the main contractor in 2015. Aside from its activities as the responsible party for the system supply and platform integration works in the modernisation of four Preveze-Class Submarines, STM is also undertaking critical tasks in the New-Type Submarine with an Air Independent Propulsion System (Reis Class) project, which is making notable contributions to the implementation of Turkey's National Submarine Project. To this end, STM passed a historic milestone in 2021 with the production in Turkey for the first time of the Torpedo Section that houses the torpedo tubes – becoming one of the few countries in the world able to carry out such works.

Since 2016, STM has been operating as the main contractor in the modernisation of the French-made Agosta 90B Khalid-Class Submarines owned by Pakistan. Delivery of the first submarine in the Agosta 90B Modernisation project has been completed, and STM is now continuing the modernisation works to the other two submarines in Pakistan. As the first engineering company in Turkey to develop the ability to build and modernise submarines, this is the first project in which STM has taken on the role of the main contractor in a submarine modernisation project for a foreign country.