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Anka

Turkish Aerospace Industries · Unmanned combat aerial vehicle · Turkey · Digital Age (2010–present)

Anka — Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
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The TAI Anka (Turkish: 'Phoenix') is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI / TUSAŞ) and produced from 2018 to the present. Alongside the better-known Baykar Bayraktar TB2 / Akıncı family, the Anka represents Turkey's state-aerospace contribution to the MALE UAV class. The aircraft is comparable in size to the General Atomics MQ-1 Predator and serves in roles spanning short-range ISR through armed strike with Turkish-developed precision-guided munitions.

The airframe is a fixed-wing twin-tail-boom design 26 ft (8 m) long with a 56 ft (17.3 m) wingspan. Empty weight is 1,650 lb (750 kg), maximum take-off weight 3,300 lb (1,500 kg), and maximum payload 440 lb (200 kg) on the original Anka-A — rising to 770+ lb on later variants. Early Anka variants use a single Thielert Centurion 2.0 / Thielert TDA CR.2.0 turbo-diesel engine producing 155 hp; the Anka-S switched to the 170 hp PD170 Turkish-developed turboprop. Cruise speed is 120 mph (104 KTAS) with a dash speed of 135 mph (117 KTAS), service ceiling 30,000 ft. Endurance reaches 24 hours on the Anka-A and 30 hours on the Anka-S with extended fuel.

Design philosophy follows the conventional MALE template — long endurance, persistent ISR, with a gradual evolution into armed overwatch. The standard sensor fit comprises the ASELFLIR-300T (Turkish-developed EO/IR turret with laser designator), the SAGE-EW SIGINT pod for electronic intelligence, additional Turkish indigenous sensor packages, and SATCOM datalinks for beyond-line-of-sight operations. Weapons are entirely Turkish: up to 4 × MAM-L laser-guided munitions, MAM-T laser-guided general-purpose bombs, Cirit 70mm laser-guided rockets, and — on the Anka-S — the SOM-A air-launched cruise missile.

The Anka entered Turkish Air Force service in 2018 and has flown counter-terrorism missions against PKK / YPG positions in northern Iraq and Syria, ISR sorties over the eastern Mediterranean, and export-customer demonstrations. Confirmed export operators include Tunisia (~6 ordered) and Chad (~2), with Indonesia and Algeria under negotiation alongside several other African and Middle Eastern customers. While Baykar's TB2 and Akıncı have dominated the export market, TAI has continued steady production at its Ankara facility — 30+ airframes have been delivered, with manufacturing ongoing for the Turkish Air Force and export customers.

Variants

Anka-A (initial)
Original 2018 production variant. Thielert turbo-diesel engine, 24-hour endurance, ~1,500 lb MTOW. ~12 delivered to Turkish Air Force.
Anka-S
SATCOM-equipped variant for beyond-line-of-sight operations. PD170 Turkish-developed engine and improved sensors. ~12 delivered to Turkish Air Force; the principal production variant in current manufacture.
Anka-2 (next-generation, 2023+)
Next-generation evolution with a larger airframe, jet propulsion option (under development), expanded weapons bay, and improved autonomy. First flight 2023; planned fielding mid-late 2020s. Intended to compete in the Bayraktar Akıncı / MQ-9 class.
Anka-Aksungur (heavy variant)
Heavier twin-engine TAI design positioned as a competitor or complement to the Anka. ~6,600 lb MTOW, 24-hour endurance, ~1,540 lb payload. Some sources treat the Aksungur as a separate platform, others as a heavy Anka derivative. Operated by Turkish Naval Forces for maritime patrol.
Anka-3 (stealth, proposed)
Proposed low-observable variant under development; limited public information. Aimed at the U.S. Collaborative Combat Aircraft / wingman category.

Notable Operators

Turkish Air Force
Primary operator with ~24+ Anka delivered across multiple variants. Operating units include 7th Main Jet Base (Erhaç) among others. Combat-deployed against PKK / YPG forces in northern Iraq and Syria, on eastern Mediterranean ISR tasking, and across other Turkish military operations.
Turkish Naval Forces (Aksungur)
TAI Aksungur heavy variant flown by Turkish Naval Forces for maritime patrol over the Aegean Sea and eastern Mediterranean. ~6+ delivered. Tasked with surface search, Greek-Turkish dispute monitoring, and other maritime missions.
Tunisia / Chad
Tunisia: ~6 Anka delivered under Tunisia-Turkey defence cooperation, flying counter-terrorism missions from Tunisian air bases. Chad: ~2 delivered, in-service details limited. These are the principal export customers — the broader market has gone to Baykar.
Other / planned
Indonesia: under negotiation, ~10-12 likely. Algeria: under negotiation. Pakistan: limited evaluation use. Other African and Middle Eastern customers under preliminary discussion. TAI's export push has been less aggressive than Baykar's, reflecting the company's broader focus on the T-129 ATAK helicopter and TF-X fighter programmes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Anka compare to the Bayraktar TB2?

Both are Turkish MALE UAVs, but built by different companies with different design philosophies. Bayraktar TB2: 1,500 lb MTOW, single piston engine, 4 × MAM-L weapons, $5-7M USD. Anka: 3,300 lb MTOW, single turbo-diesel / turboprop engine, 4 × MAM-L + 4 × MAM-T weapons, $20-30M USD. The mission profile is similar but the Anka is roughly 2× larger, heavier, and more expensive. Baykar (private) has dominated exports through aggressive marketing; TAI (state-owned) has prioritised Turkish Air Force fielding with limited export effort. Turkey operates both, and the platforms complement each other in service.

How does the Anka compare to the MQ-1 Predator?

It is a direct functional equivalent. MQ-1 Predator: 2,250 lb MTOW, Rotax 914 piston engine, 24-hour endurance, 2 × AGM-114 Hellfire. Anka: 3,300 lb MTOW, comparable piston / turbo-diesel propulsion, 24-hour endurance, 4 × MAM-L. Both occupy the medium-altitude long-endurance armed UAV niche. The Predator left U.S. Air Force service in 2018 after 25+ years; the Anka entered service the same year, with Turkey effectively replicating the Predator concept using indigenous components. The Anka embodies Turkey's state-aerospace take on mid-2010s UAV technology.

What weapons can the Anka carry?

Turkish-developed precision-guided munitions exclusively. Standard fit: 4 × MAM-L (laser-guided 50-lb-class) + 4 × MAM-T (laser-guided 100-lb-class) + Cirit 70mm laser-guided rockets. The Anka-S can also carry the SOM-A air-launched cruise missile (1,200-lb class, ~150 mi range). UMTAS anti-tank guided missile is cleared for frontline use. No U.S. or European weapons are integrated — supporting Turkey's broader push for indigenous weapons-system independence.

How long can the Anka stay airborne?

Up to 24 hours on the Anka-A; 30+ hours on the Anka-S with extended fuel and reduced payload. Typical mission profile is 18-24 hours airborne over the patrol area, with a service ceiling of 30,000 ft and cruise speed of 120 mph. Endurance matches the U.S. MQ-1 Predator (24 hours) and falls short of the larger MQ-9 Reaper (27+ hours). For Turkish counter-PKK operations — typically 12-18 hours of persistent ISR over northern Iraq — the Anka's endurance is more than sufficient.

Has the Anka seen combat?

Yes. Turkish Air Force Anka have struck PKK / YPG positions in northern Iraq and Syria since 2018, with multiple confirmed kills. Combat sorties include strikes during Operation Claw (2019 onwards), Turkey's sustained campaign against PKK leadership in the Qandil Mountains. The combat record parallels the more-publicised Bayraktar TB2 — both platforms have operated in low-air-defence environments where Turkish UAVs face limited threats. The Anka has not been employed in higher-air-defence contested environments such as against Russian or Syrian Arab Army assets.

What does the Anka cost?

$20-30M USD per complete system, depending on configuration and customer. Per-airframe cost runs $15-20M USD. That is well above the Bayraktar TB2 (~$5-7M USD), reflecting the larger and more capable platform, and comparable to MQ-1 Predator complete-system pricing once adjusted for inflation. The Tunisia procurement (~6 Anka, ~2018-2020) was reported at roughly $80M USD total — about $13M USD per system inclusive of training and initial spares.

Sources

See Also