Paris Air Show 2023: Turkish Aerospace debuts Anka III UCAV

A 1:7 scale model of Turkish Aerospace Anka III UCAV at the Paris Air Show 2023. (Janes/Sam Wise)

Turkish Aerospace (TA) has revealed details of its new Anka III medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) at the Paris Air Show 2023, held from 19 to 25 June. The company displayed a 1:7 scale model of the UCAV.

The Anka III, which underwent taxi tests on 26 April 2023 and is expected to conduct its maiden flight in July, is a tailless flying-wing configuration aircraft with low-observability design features including a frontal air intake obscured from below and a sawtooth engine exhaust.

The model on display featured four wing-mounted pylons carrying a TA Süper Şimşek aerial target, a Roketsan Stand-Off Missile (SOM-J) air-to-surface munition, and Roketsan MAM-T mini smart munition. Unlike the Anka and Aksungur UAVs, the Anka III also features an internal weapons bay. It is stated as being capable of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T) and swarm deployment as well as carrying an air-to-air radar and munitions. It is compatible with the ground control systems of the Anka and the Aksungur and features the same avionics architecture.

It is equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors. Other roles for the UCAV include electronic warfare (signals and communications intelligence), suppression/destruction of enemy air defences, and acting as a communications relay.

The Anka III has a maximum take-off weight of 6,500 kg (14,330 lb) and an absolute ceiling of 12,192 m (40,000 ft). At 9,144 m (30,000 ft) it has a 10-hour endurance, a maximum operating speed of 467 kt, and a cruise speed of 280 kt.

According to Janes analysis, the overall width of the UCAV is around 12.5 m and the length is 9.5 m.