Turkish defense firm unveils Anka-3 stealth combat drone

Middle East, News March 25, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) unveiled its high-stealth and flight-ready Anka-3 combat drone for the first time. The new combat drone is expected to take its maiden flight in the coming months.

TAI initially announced in December last year that it is working on a flying-wing stealth design for an unmanned combat drone. The design and features of the new drone were unveiled at the Military Radar and the Border Security Summit in Ankara this week.

TAI chief executive Temel Kotil said the Anka-3 has already begun ground tests ahead of plans for its maiden flight. “The new unmanned aerial vehicle will be outfitted with the same aviation infrastructure and ground control station as the Anka drones,” TAI said in a statement.

“The first prototype’s structural assembly was completed in January 2023, and ground tests are currently underway. The Anka-3′s engine will be powered up in April 2023, and the taxi service will begin. The inaugural flight is scheduled for the same month,” the statement added.

Kotil also unveiled some technical specifications of the drone during his presentation. He pointed out that Anka-3 would have a payload capacity of 1,200 kilograms and it would be able to take off with a maximum weight of 6,500 kilograms.

The TAI drone would be able to attain the highest altitude of 40,000 feet with 10 hours of endurance time. At 30,000 feet that drone would be able to attain a cruise speed of 250 knots and a top speed of 425 knots.

Anka-3 is an upgraded version of TAI’s Anka drones series. With Anka-3, the company plans to outperform the Aksungur and older Anka variants of drones in terms of speed and payload capacity.

The company did not reveal information about the Anka-3′s weapons portfolio and the types of sensors that are expected to be used in the drone, however, based on the company’s previous models it is expected that the drone would feature a wide array of internal and external weapons options. The also company declined to provide the unit cost of the Anka-3.

After being rejected from the U.S. F-35 program, Turkey has been working to improve its local aircraft manufacturing industry. TAI has expertise in building aircraft primarily for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, deep-strike operations, and the destruction or suppression of enemy air defenses.

*^{Turkish defense firm TAI released a picture of Milli Muhrip Ucak (MMU) or National Combat Aircraft. (Image Credit: TAI/via Twitter/@TUSAS_TR)}*

Last week, TAI also unveiled Turkey’s first locally produced fifth-generation fighter, the Milli Muhrip Ucak (MMU) or National Combat Aircraft, formerly known as the TF-X.

The aircraft bears some resemblance to the American F-22 and F-35 fighter jets and is intended to incorporate similar low-observable design features, including the use of internal weapons bays, leading-edge alignment, and radar-absorbent materials. Turkish Air Force is expected to receive the first batch of MMU fighter jets between 2030 and 2033.