The company has completed a second production line, scheduled to open in November, for a variant with an enlarged airframe and an expected payload capacity of 1.75 tons.
New line, larger airframe
Turkish Aerospace has completed construction of a second production line for its Anka 3 unmanned combat aerial vehicle, with the line scheduled to open in November, a company official told Breaking Defense.
The new line will produce a variant with a larger airframe and an expected payload capacity of 1.75 tons, up from about 1.3 tons on the original platform. The upgrade will allow the aircraft to carry more munitions to meet new national requirements, the official said.
The first aircraft built on the line is expected to roll out “soon” and then begin flight testing, the official said during a visit Wednesday to the company’s Ankara facility.
Anka 3 testing and orders
The Anka 3 is designed for strike and other combat missions. Turkish Aerospace says the aircraft can reach high-subsonic speeds and operate at altitudes of up to 40,000 feet.
The Turkish armed forces have ordered 80 Anka 3s, with the first deliveries expected in 2027. During the visit, reporters saw the first prototype of the original variant, which is currently undergoing flight testing.
UAVs and attack systems on display
Eight Anka medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs were displayed in the same hangar at different stages of final assembly. Some were missing their fixed wings, while others lacked sections of their fuselages. A ninth aircraft was being prepared for test flights, according to the company official. Aksungur multirole MALE drones were also on display.
Beside the Anka 3 prototype were the Ayaz turbojet-powered one-way attack UAV and the Super Şimşek kamikaze drone, both recently unveiled by Turkish Aerospace. The official said the systems successfully carried out dive attacks and hit their targets during the Atış Serbest exercise, marking their first use with live warheads.
The visit also included a tour of the company’s helicopter final-assembly line, where T70 and T625 Gökbey utility helicopters, as well as T129 Atak attack helicopters, are assembled.
KAAN and Hürjet not shown
Turkish Aerospace’s fifth-generation KAAN fighter was not on display. Company officials said prototype 1, or P1, was being prepared for flight testing. The initial prototype, P0, made its maiden flight in 2024. P1 is the first aircraft intended for delivery to the Turkish armed forces.
The Hürjet trainer and light-attack aircraft was also absent. Spain has signed an agreement to buy 30 Hürjets, and Turkish Aerospace CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu said Tuesday that Madrid plans to purchase another 15 trainers.
The visit took place during the Atış Serbest exercise and included tours of five Turkish defense companies: Aselsan, Turkish Aerospace, Asfat, MKE and Roketsan. The Turkish Ministry of Defense covered the invited media’s travel and accommodation.
