The production iteration of the ANKA-III stealth UCAV being developed by TUSAŞ will come with improvements in performance and provision for air-to-air combat TurkicWorld reports via turdef.com.
TUSAŞ CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu gave information regarding the production iteration of the ANKA-III stealth UCAV in his interview with Habertürk.
Pointing out that the production iteration of ANKA-III will be different from the prototypes so far, Demiroğlu underlined the flight performance enhancements compared to the initial figures.
According to Demiroğlu’s statement, production ANKA-III will have a “slightly” larger frame, increased endurance (From the initially given 10 hours) and payload capacity from 1.2 tons to 1.7 tons.
Another important detail is the addition of provisions for air-to-air capabilities. While Demiroğlu did not delve into the details, it is understood that the production ANKA-III will have a revised nose to house the MURAD 100-A AESA radar (Integrated on F-16, KIZILELMA, and AKINCI) and possibly KARAT 100 IRST.
TUSAŞ previously gave a teaser on air-to-air capabilities on its interactive booth that gave detailed information on ANKA-III’s armament configurations. Air-to-Air configurations include internally carried GÖKDOĞAN BVRAAM (Up to two) and externally carried BOZDOĞAN BVRAAM.
However, Demiroğlu underlined that air-to-air is not ANKA-III’s primary mission and that strike capabilities will be at the forefront.
Demiroğlu pointed to 2027’s first quarter for the maiden flight of the production iteration and 2027’s first half for deliveries.
