Royal Malaysian Air Force has flight-tested its newly acquired ANKA-S UCAV from TUSAŞ as a validation shortly before the declaration of operational status.
Janes reported that an ANKA-THS UCAV, Malaysian designation of TUSAŞ’s ANKA-S UCAV, has been flight tested to validate the aircraft’s service readiness. The flight test performed from Labuan Air Base lasted for three hours.
Malaysia ordered three ANKA-S UCAVs in 2023 for $104 million, with the delivery beginning in 2026.
ANKA-S is a MALE-class UCAV powered by TEI’s PD170 turbodiesel engine, providing lowered power losses at altitude and low fuel consumption.
The UCAV has an endurance of 30 hours and can carry a payload weighing up to 350 kg.
Armament options include MAM-C/L/T glide munitions, LGK-81 250 lb laser-guided bomb, TOLUN-P SDB, and a kamikaze configuration of ŞİMŞEK high-speed UAV for stand-off strikes.
By default, ANKA is fitted with a nose-mounted electro-optical system, but other sensor options are available, such as FULMAR 300-A (SARPER) SAR, MİLSAR SAR, and FULMAR 200-A AESA SAR pod. Additionally, ANKA can be fitted with ASELSAN’s ANTIDOT series of electronic warfare pods (ANTIDOT 2-U ESM pod, ANTIDOT 2-U radar EA pod, ANTIDOT 2-U LB/MB/HB mini EA pod).
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
