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First flight for the Turkish ANKA Unmanned Aircraft
January 12, 2011
Turkeys first indigenous Medium-Altitude, Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle designated Anka made its first test flight December 31, 2010. Anka is Turkeys first entry into the MALE system category. Sofar the the Turkish industry has produces only the smaller Unmanned Aerial Systems.
The new UAV is designed to fly at an altitude of 23,000 feet for 23 hours.Anka has a wingspan of 17.3 meters and is powered by a diesel engine rated at 155-hp, Its eight meter long fuselage is mad of composite.
Anka uses the locally developed ASELFLIR 300T payload developed by Aselsan. This payload includes a multi-sensor electro-optical system comprising a day TV, and Thermal Camera (IR-Infrared) / Laser Range Finder / Laser Designator (LRF/LD) and Laser Spotter. The Anka also carries a Synthetic Aperture Radar / Moving Target Indicator (SAR/MTI) which also supports with Inverse SAR ISAR operating mode for maritime missions.
Turkey is aiming at gaining self sufficiency in unmanned systems in upcoming year. The Turkish military was introduced to UAS through the use of UAVs leased from Israel, and the procurement of Israeli IAI Heron UAVs a delivery recently completed, despite the deteriorating relations between the two countries. Turkeys military has used these UAVs in its war against Kurdish separatists operating in the countrys southeast bordering Iraq and Iran.
Along with its quest for self sufficiency, Turkey embarked on the development of the new system in 2005. A prototype designated Turkish Indigenous MALE UAV.
First flight for the Turkish ANKA Unmanned Aircraft - Defense-Update