Dedicated drone munitions could unlock modular mission potential
The STM Tunga smart munition system is intended to be deployed from UASs. (Photo: STM)
Top attacks have proven effective against heavily armoured vehicles in Ukraine. A new family of uncrewed aerial system-delivered munitions is looking to press that advantage further.
Uncrewed aerial systems (UASs), particularly smaller aircraft, were originally developed for reconnaissance missions with some variance into attack, such as Israel Aerospace Industries’ Harpy. An increasing number, however, are being used in the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict for offensive missions.
These can range from dropping a small payload aimed at individuals or larger ones capable of knocking out armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) on their upper surfaces where they are at their weakest. Until recently, many of these top-attack weapons were improvised from existing munitions such as mortar bombs, but bespoke designs are now being mass-produced.
Turkish company STM (Savunma Teknolojileri
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Land Warfare
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Hanwha increases Middle East presence and reveals Tigon 8x8 sale]()
World Defense Show 2026: Hanwha increases Middle East presence and reveals Tigon 8x8 sale
Shephard sat down with Hanwha Middle East and Africa president Sung Il at World Defense Show 2026 to hear about the company’s plans for the region and how it plans to use local industry success to win deals.
-
![Estonia builds Asia-Pacific links as it looks to scale defence industry capabilities]()
Estonia builds Asia-Pacific links as it looks to scale defence industry capabilities
Collaboration between Estonian defence companies and well-aligned firms in Asia-Pacific will form a key part of Tallinn’s ambitions to significantly grow its defence industrial base.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: DOK-ING working on MV-8 variants and reveals specs ahead of Eurosatory]()
World Defense Show 2026: DOK-ING working on MV-8 variants and reveals specs ahead of Eurosatory
The Croatian company began the development of the MV-8 modular uncrewed platform in the early 2020s. Specifications for the vehicle were revealed to Shephard at World Defense Show 2026.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Turkish and European industries will cooperate, says Aselsan boss]()
World Defense Show 2026: Turkish and European industries will cooperate, says Aselsan boss
Aselsan was formed 50 years ago in response to difficulties Turkey was facing in sourcing major systems internationally. While some challenges still remain, company president Ahmet Akyol believes a rapprochement is possible.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: Russia reveals details of new loitering munition]()
World Defense Show 2026: Russia reveals details of new loitering munition
The Kalashnikov RUS-PE cannister-launched man-portable loitering munition was displayed as a model at World Defense Show 2026 with a company official telling Shephard it was “in service and in low-rate initial production”.
-
![World Defense Show 2026: MARSS displays new Nation Shield air defence C2 system]()
World Defense Show 2026: MARSS displays new Nation Shield air defence C2 system
Nation Shield is the latest iteration of the MARSS C2 system and is designed to provide C2 further forward along with more capable air defence.
