Turkish Aerospace Industries TAI Anka

The TAI Anka is a family of medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicles developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). The development program began following a contract effective December 24, 2004, to meet the reconnaissance requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces. The aircraft performed its first flight on December 30, 2010, and acceptance tests were completed by the Turkish Air Force in January 2013. Production of the platform is ongoing, with over 100 units manufactured by 2024.

The aircraft is constructed with an open architecture to support modular payloads. Standard equipment includes a digital flight control system, national mission computer, and redundant flight-critical systems. Sensor options consist of electro-optic day cameras, forward-looking infrared (FLIR), laser rangefinders, and laser designators. Specialized configurations utilize synthetic-aperture radar (SAR), ground moving target indicator (GMTI), and inverse synthetic-aperture radar (ISAR). The Anka-S variant incorporates a satellite communication (SATCOM) antenna for beyond-line-of-sight operations. The platform has a payload capacity of 350 kilograms and an endurance of 30 hours.

Armament is carried on external hardpoints and includes laser-guided munitions developed by Roketsan and Tubitak-Sage. Integrated weapon systems comprise MAM-L and MAM-C smart micro-munitions, Cirit 70mm guided rockets, Bozok laser-guided rockets, and L-UMTAS long-range anti-tank missiles. Live-fire testing of the armed configuration was first completed in August 2018.

The Anka entered operational service with the Turkish Air Force in 2017 and has since been adopted by the Turkish Naval Forces, Gendarmerie General Command, and the National Intelligence Organization. The platform has been deployed in various combat environments, including Operation Euphrates Shield, Operation Olive Branch, and Operation Spring Shield. Operational losses include two units shot down in Syria in February and March 2020, two units lost in Libya in 2020, and one Anka-S shot down by a USAF F-16 over Syria in October 2023. Export customers include Tunisia, which received its first units in 2021, and Kazakhstan. Indonesia, Algeria, Malaysia, Chad, and Uzbekistan have also placed orders for the system.

Main Variants

• Anka-A: The initial MALE configuration designed for reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
• Anka-B: An improved version featuring SAR/ISAR/GMTI radar and increased payload capacity.
• Anka-S: The serial production configuration equipped with SATCOM and a national flight control computer.
• Anka-I: An electronic warfare and signal intelligence variant developed for the National Intelligence Organization.
• Anka +A: A planned high-altitude long-endurance hunter-killer version with an increased weight of over 4 tons.

🇩🇿 Algeria • 🇮🇩 Indonesia • 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan • 🇵🇰 Pakistan • 🇹🇩 Chad • 🇹🇳 Tunisia • 🇹🇷 Turkey

Missiles payload:

• Anti-Tank L-UMTAS
• Air-to-Surface Roketsan Cirit
• Cruise TAI Şimşek

Bombs payload:

• Guided Bomb MAM-L
• Guided Bomb MAM-C
• Guided Bomb TUBITAK-SAGE BOZOK