Over the past two years, the Turkish Anka-3 stealth drone has been on display as a model at numerous trade fairs, and now manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has announced the system’s maiden flight. This brings Ankara into line with countries such as France, the USA and China, which have already developed and launched drones in this class.
The maiden flight on December 28 lasted one hour and ten minutes. The device was flying at an altitude of 2,400 meters and at a speed of around 280 km/h and was accompanied by a turboprop training aircraft.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared the video of the manufacturer TAI on the debut of the MIUS (Turkish for “National Unmanned Combat Aircraft System”) with the words: “Our Anka-3 unmanned combat aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight today. We hope that our aircraft will make a strong contribution to the defense of our country with its advanced technologies, design and functions.”
Not yet the final version
The Anka-3 is an externally difficult to recognize flying wing aircraft for the suppression and destruction of enemy air defences (SEAD/DEAD) as well as ISR, EW missions and attack operations at depth. It is to be expected that the still classic round and rear-projecting thrust nozzle – as on the Chinese GJ-11, for example – will later be modified into a more internally concealed version. The device has six external mounting options for weapons: It can carry 635 kilograms at each of the attachment stations on the right and left of the fuselage, as well as at the two inner stations on the wing. A further 100 kilograms can be attached to each of the two other stations. Of course, the primary weapon loads in stealth mode are deployed from the internal weapon bays.
In brochures, TAI mentions the Mark 82, a 227-kilogram free-fall bomb that can also be guided with various seeker heads (GPS, infrared, laser) and the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB), a precision-guided glide bomb with folding trapezoid wings with a range of up to 150 kilometers, as compatible weapons. In addition, the Anka-3 will also be able to carry the Turkish SOM-J cruise missile with a range of 275 kilometers.
Stealth fighter jet also under development
In addition to the Anka-3 TAI is also currently developing a manned twin-engine stealth aircraftwhich should also have recently completed its maiden flight. The jet, named TF-X or Kaan, could in future work together with the Anka-3, which should then act as an interacting wingman. In this respect, it will be interesting to see what place the Anka-3 will actually take in the Turkish Air Force’s (THK) arsenal, as the Turkish company Bayrar is developing the Bayraktar Kizilelma combat drone in parallel, which can be used just as flexibly and is intended to accompany manned fighter jets as a wingman. It also has stealth characteristics, is already undergoing flight tests and has already been officially inspected by the Turkish President. However, Kizilelma is likely to be faster and more agile than Anka-3 and should be more suitable for engaging air targets. The Anka-3, on the other hand, is more likely to be used against high-value ground targets.
