TAI Completes Anka UAV Test Campaign

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has completed a roughly 130-flight acceptance test campaign involving its Anka medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle, and is continuing talks over a planned first order for the system.

Launched late in 2012, the acceptance process culminated in long-duration and night-time sorties flown between 20 and 22 January, 2013, TAI says.

During an individual sortie lasting more than 18h, the Anka demonstrated its "full endurance and 200km [108nm] data link range performances, under winds reaching 45kt [83km/h]", the company says. Night-time flights testing the aircraft's automatic take-off and landing system were also performed.

The indigenously developed type has so far accumulated over 140 flight hours and reached a maximum altitude of 26,000ft (7,900m) since making its debut appearance in December 2010, it adds.

TAI says contract negotiations are underway with Ankara's Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) procurement agency regarding a planned acquisition of 10 Anka systems for the Turkish air force.

Egypt was also in late 2012 reported as having agreed to purchase 10 Anka air vehicles, in what would be the first export sale of the roughly 1,500kg (3,300lb) type. Powered by a Thielert Centurion 2.0 engine, the design has a claimed maximum flight endurance of 24h.