Turkey unveils advanced unmanned stealth drone in maiden flight

Dec 29, 2023

William Jackson Producer

By William Jackson (Producer)

ANKA III, celebrated for its successful maiden flight by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, distinguishes itself with advanced stealth and high payload capabilities. Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), this jet-powered drone features a design for reduced radar visibility.

TUSAŞ tarafından geliştirilen insansız savaş uçağımız Anka III, bugün ilk uçuşunu başarıyla gerçekleştirdi. İnşallah uçağımız, sahip olduğu gelişmiş teknolojilerle, tasarımıyla ve özellikleriyle ülkemizin savunmasına çok güçlü bir katkı sağlayacak. 🇹🇷 pic.twitter.com/ElZaSoNRVo
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) December 28, 2023

“Our unmanned warplane Anka III, developed by TAI, successfully completed its first flight today,” Erdogan said in a post published on and translated by X. “Hopefully, our aircraft will make a strong contribution to the defense of our country with its advanced technologies, design and features.”

Download the SAN app today to stay up-to-date with Unbiased. Straight Facts™.

Point phone camera here

Tailored for versatility, ANKA III excels in stealth, making it ideal for reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence missions.

With capabilities for air-to-ground and air-to-air tasks, it collaborates seamlessly with friendly elements. The drone reaches a maximum speed of 540 mph and operates at an altitude of 40,000 feet.

Erdogan expressed confidence in ANKA III’s advanced technologies, emphasizing its role in fortifying Turkey’s defense and addressing potential gaps in the Turkish Air Force, particularly amid delays in acquiring F-16 fighters.

Gözükmeyecek!
Fark edildiğinde çok geç olacak.

Delta kanat yapısıyla birlikte sert tırmanışları ve dalış manevralarını kolaylıkla yapabilecek.

10 saatlik havada kalış süresiyle keşif, gözetleme ve istihbarat sağlayabilecek.

Türkiye’nin gücüne güç katacak insansız savaş… pic.twitter.com/dC0xBgivGe
— Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii (@TUSAS_TR) December 29, 2023

“It won’t show up!,” the official X account of Turkish Aerospace Industries said in post published on and translated by X. “By the time he’s noticed it will be too late. With its delta wing structure, it will be able to make hard climbs and diving maneuvers easily. It will be able to provide reconnaissance, surveillance and intelligence with a 10-hour airtime. ANKA III, the unmanned warplane that will strengthen Turkey’s power, is now in the sky.”

ANKA III further enhances Turkey’s capabilities with two fuselage stations capable of carrying 1,400 pounds of weapons, including U.S.-made Mk 82 bombs and locally produced SOM-J standoff missiles.

These advancements underscore Turkey’s commitment to unmanned aircraft technology and aerospace progress. The nation’s focus on collaborative crewed and uncrewed systems highlights a strategic emphasis on self-sufficiency in defense capabilities.