- Joined
- Jun 27, 2010
- Messages
- 130
- Reaction score
- 0
ANKA Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. (TAI) and the flight tests of which have continued since 30th December 2010, completed the acceptance testing process with the flights made on 20th January 2013 and 22nd January 2013. The 18+ hour long test flight commenced on January 20th at 9:05am and concluded with automatic landing on January 21st at 3:15am, after successful demonstration of full endurance and 200 km data link range performances. During Konya-bound range fight made under the wind reaching to 40-45 kts, a connection and coordination was established with Esenboğa Airport over data link.
During the acceptance process, which has been in progress since October 2012, nearly 130 different ground and flight tests were successfully accomplished with the participation of representatives from the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) and Air Forces Command. Following the tests, the military and defence officials decided ANKA UAVs mission readiness and concluded the acceptance tests.
Since its first flight in December 2010, ANKA UAV system has accumulated more than 140 flight hours, during which flight control, data link, propulsion, fuel, landing gear, environmental control, ice protection and electrical systems, as well as mission systems including EO/IR payload, ATC radio and data recorder were tested at altitudes reaching 26000ft. Autopilot, navigation, automatic loiter pattern and ATOLS capabilities were demonstrated throughout the flight envelope under severe weather conditions.
The contract negotiations are already underway with SSM for the initial mass production of ten ANKA systems for the Turkish Air Force and expected to be completed in midst 2013.
