TAI Anka
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) · Turkey · first flew 2010 · reconnaissance aircraft
The TAI Anka is Turkey's indigenous medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle, used for persistent surveillance, border patrol and light strike missions.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboprop, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Turkish MALE UCAV with a pusher turboprop at the rear and twin-boom tail
- Bulbous sensor nose and broad straight wing for extended loiter
- Resembles a scaled Predator but with a twin-boom empennage
A pusher turboprop at the rear of a slender fuselage pod, broad straight wing set midway along the fuselage, and a twin-boom tail are the main features. The bulbous electro-optical sensor sits under the nose.
Specifications
- The TAI Anka has a length of 8.6 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 17.5 m (57 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 217 km/h (135 mph).
- Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Development began in the early 2000s as Turkey sought to reduce dependence on Israeli UCAVs. The Anka prototype flew in December 2010, and the system entered Turkish military service around 2016. It represents a key milestone in Turkey's domestic aerospace industry, with TAI producing all major components.
Variants
The Anka-A is the basic reconnaissance variant; the Anka-S adds satellite communications for beyond-line-of-sight operations; the Anka-I introduces an improved mission system. Armed variants equipped with MAM-L smart micro munitions have also been deployed.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Turkish Air Force and Gendarmerie for border surveillance and counter-terrorism missions. Exported to Tunisia and under consideration by other states.
Related aircraft
- TAI/Leonardo T129 ATAK
- AeroVironment Global Observer
- Airbus Zephyr 7
- Elbit Systems Hermes 90
- EMT Luna NG
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