Locally produced aircraft no longer a thing of the future

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

The delivery of 10 ANKA unmanned aircraft will commence in 2016. DHA photo

The serial production of local Turkish unmanned aircraft, “ANKA”, is one step closer to realization, with the signing of an agreement between the Turkish Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) and developer Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) on Oct. 25, the SSM announced yesterday.

The ANKA aircraft will be developed for the purposes of meeting the reconnaissance, observation and target recognition-determination needs of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). According to the deal, the delivery of 10 ANKA unmanned aircraft, with its related ground systems, will commence in 2016 and be completed in 2018.

ANKA system has additional capabilities such as control via satellite, cryptographic data link, a national flight control computer and high resolution camera.

TAI’s prime contractor role in the project has attracted a number of Turkish companies who have also shown interest in the project, the SSM said in a written statement.