ANKA Drone: Specifications, Range, and ANKA-S Production
The ANKA is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Turkish Aerospace. It flies on an autonomous flight architecture with line-of-sight and satellite control data links. Turkish Aerospace reports that ANKA fleets have accumulated over 400,000 flight hours.
What the ANKA Is and What It Carries
The ANKA is Turkish Aerospace's medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It flies up to 30 hours at a service ceiling of 30,000 feet, and it is a fixed-wing aircraft rather than a rotorcraft.
The ANKA payload architecture accommodates multiple operational configurations across intelligence collection, active electronic warfare, and direct air-to-ground precision weapons delivery. When configured for combat missions, the airframe carries precision guided bombs, laser guided rockets, and anti-tank missiles.
Turkish Aerospace publishes the following figures for the ANKA:
- Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) class, with a 30,000 ft service ceiling.
- 17.5 m wingspan, 8.6 m length, 3.25 m height.
- 1,700 kg maximum takeoff weight (MTOW), 350+ kg payload.
- Up to 30 hours endurance.
- Line-of-sight datalink to +250 km; satellite communications (SATCOM) to 2,500+ km.
- Multi-payload bay for an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera and a SAR/GMTI-ISAR radar.
Published Dimensions and Flight Performance Baseline
Turkish Aerospace publishes the ANKA's physical dimensions and baseline flight performance on its product page. Sourced directly from the official Turkish Aerospace ANKA product page, these technical measurements establish the baseline airframe envelope. The published data establishes a 17.5-metre wingspan alongside an endurance rating of up to 30 hours.
The ANKA has two control paths: a line-of-sight data link and a satellite link for beyond-line-of-sight flight. The published datalink range is +250 km for line-of-sight data link systems. The integration of satellite communication systems extends control range to 2,500+ km for beyond-line-of-sight operations.
The ANKA operates with a published service ceiling of 30,000 feet.
| Metric | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Wing Span | 17.5 m |
| Length | 8.6 m |
| Height | 3.25 m |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) | 1,700 kg |
| Payload Capacity | 350+ kg |
| Endurance | up to 30 hours |
| Service Ceiling | 30,000 ft |
| Datalink Range | +250 km |
| SATCOM Range | 2,500+ km |
From 2010 Maiden Flight to ANKA-S Serial Production
Turkish Aerospace engineers designed the ANKA with support from numerous domestic subcontractor companies. Turkish Aerospace completed structural assembly and airframe production before rolling the ANKA out of the hangar at an official ceremony held at company facilities on 16 July 2010. Engineers successfully started the aircraft engine directly following that rollout ceremony.
The airframe performed its maiden flight on 30 December 2010. In October 2013, Turkish Aerospace signed a serial production contract for 10 aircraft under the ANKA-S programme. The ANKA-S project was completed successfully and the system entered serial production.
The manufacturer publishes that active ANKA fleets integrated into the inventories of various end-users have accumulated over 400,000 flight hours. However, the manufacturer's milestone figure is an aggregate operational total that does not itemize flight hours by specific end-user, individual tail number, or geographic deployment.
Hardware Redundancy and Autonomous Flight Safety Systems
A fully redundant, autonomous flight control system pairs double-redundant computers with redundant flight-control sensors and control-surface movers. This interconnected design provides safe autonomous operation from take-off until landing.
Safe take-off and recovery rely on a Redundant Automatic Take-Off-Landing System that eliminates the need for pilot or operator intervention. The system achieves operational redundancy by drawing positioning coordinates simultaneously from two distinct data sources: an active Radar Tracking System and a Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS).
If a command data link disconnects during flight, the aircraft automatically executes an autonomous return to base and lands safely at the original take-off field without operator inputs. Furthermore, an integrated Emergency Field Landing Capability allows the aircraft to land at the nearest field if an emergency prevents reaching the take-off field.
Power Generation and Secure Avionics Architecture
Continuous electrical power on the ANKA relies on a redundant generation and distribution architecture fed by the airframe powerplant. The system features an alternator and batteries driven by the engine. If the alternator fails, critical systems continue to be fed by the batteries.
Ground and satellite connectivity uses a Redundant High Data Fast Digital Data Connection. The aircraft carries two redundant, encrypted line-of-sight data link systems with high capacity. It also includes a satellite communication system for beyond-line-of-sight operation.
Turkish Aerospace built the ANKA avionics suite around DO-178B compliant software and DO-254 compliant hardware. Both specifications serve as civil airworthiness assurance standards for airborne software and airborne electronic hardware respectively. Building the unmanned aircraft to these baselines is a design-assurance choice regarding how onboard avionics are developed and evidenced.
Sensor Configuration and Electronic Warfare Payloads
The 350+ kg payload capacity of the ANKA supports modular integration across multi-mission hardware suites tailored for surveillance, electronic support, or offensive action. In dedicated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) configurations, the airframe carries an EO/IR Camera. ISR configurations also include a SAR/GMTI-ISAR Radar.
The airframe accommodates communications intelligence (COMINT) and electronic intelligence (ELINT) packages alongside active electronic support measures (ESM). Electronic warfare payloads also include Electronic Attack (EA) and Communication Jamming (ComJam) systems. Operational support payloads add SATCOM, a radio relay and an Air Launched Drone.
Where the ANKA Sits in Turkish Aerospace's Unmanned Family
Within Turkish Aerospace's own portfolio, the ANKA shares a common avionics architecture and ground segment with the AKSUNGUR and the ANKA III. The ANKA III is a separate aircraft from the ANKA rather than a variant.
Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc., one of several Turkish drone companies building unmanned aircraft, is a subsidiary of TAFF and SSB.
Sharing an avionics architecture and ground segment across the ANKA, the AKSUNGUR, and the ANKA III links three distinct aircraft to the same ground control stations and datalink infrastructure. That ground segment encompasses the control stations, communication terminals, and trained crew. Across all three aircraft, those components form a shared asset rather than three separate operational pipelines.
Adopting a second airframe is therefore a smaller step for an operator than integrating an unrelated system.
Published Technical Gaps and Verification
Turkish Aerospace publishes no unit price or programme acquisition cost for the ANKA on its product page.
Turkish Aerospace publishes no engine model, no cruise or maximum speed, and no radar cross-section figure for the ANKA.
Similarly, the manufacturer publishes no official registry of export customers, operator armed forces, or individual country deliveries on its product portal. To confirm verified delivery totals or authorized operator listings, inspect updates released directly on the Turkish Aerospace ANKA specifications page.
Drones and UAS FAQs
What is the ANKA drone?
The ANKA is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle designed and produced by Turkish Aerospace alongside domestic subcontractor companies. It features an autonomous flight control architecture, a 17.5-metre wingspan, and a 1,700 kg maximum takeoff weight. The airframe carries over 350 kg of mission payloads for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strike tasks.
What is the ANKA drone's range?
The ANKA's published range depends on whether the system uses direct radio links or satellite communications. Turkish Aerospace publishes a digital line-of-sight datalink range of +250 km and an extended SATCOM range exceeding 2,500 km for beyond-line-of-sight missions. The manufacturer does not publish a specific unrefuelled ferry distance or combat mission radius figure.
How long can the ANKA stay in the air?
The ANKA drone can sustain unrefuelled flight operations for up to 30 hours according to published manufacturer specifications. It operates at altitudes up to a maximum service ceiling of 30,000 feet.
How much does an ANKA drone cost?
Turkish Aerospace does not publish an official unit price or programme cost figure for the ANKA drone on its product page.
Which country makes the ANKA drone?
The ANKA drone is manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc., which is a subsidiary of TAFF and SSB.
What is the difference between the ANKA and the ANKA-III?
The ANKA is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle with a 1,700 kg maximum takeoff weight, a 350+ kg payload, a 30,000-foot service ceiling, and up to 30 hours of endurance. The ANKA-3 is a separate flying-wing aircraft powered by a turbofan engine, featuring a 6,500 kg maximum takeoff weight, a 1,200 kg payload, and a 40,000-foot ceiling.
Turkish Aerospace claims low radar observability for the ANKA-3, though both airframes share a common avionics architecture and ground segment with the AKSUNGUR.