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Turkish Drone Launches Anti Terrorist Strike

HUMBAHASTIMES -- At the beginning of the month, the Turkish Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced that the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) Anka medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) UAV carried out its first armed strike against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). In the video released by the Turkish MoD, the Anka was armed with at least two Roketsan MAM-L air-to-surface missiles, designed for use by lightweight aircrafts.

According to quwa.org, this attack follows the successful weaponization of the TAI Anka UAV, which was announced by the Turkish MoD in April. Official photos presented have shown the Anka configured with MAM-L missiles and CİRİT laser-guided rockets as well as an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensor pod.


Powered by a 155 hp engine, the TAI Anka has a payload of 200 kg and endurance of 24 hours. Its existing line-of-sight (LoS) communications system provides a range of 200 km.

The armed Anka is Turkey’s second armed drone, after  the Kale-Baykar Bayraktar TB2. The Bayraktar TB2 was put into operation use in September at a strike, also against the PKK.

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are also slated to receive satellite-communications (SATCOM)-equipped Anka-S UAVs in 2017. Under a 2013 contract, 10 systems are to be delivered by 2018. Satellite connectivity will enable the TSK to use the Anka beyond its 200 km LoS range.

Along with the T129 ATAK and Hürkuş, the Anka is in TAI’s catalogue for domestic and overseas markets. Like the previous developments, the Turkish Undersecretariat of Defence Industries (SSM) views the Anka as a medium for further indigenization of technologies. (source)