Unmanned air vehicle ANKA fails final test

ISTANBUL

ANKA made its first test flight in December 2010, and has since been used in around 100 sorties.

ANKA, the Turkish Aerospace Industry’s (TAI) unmanned air vehicle, crashed due to a technical problem during its final tests on Sept. 27.

ANKA made its first test flight in December 2010, and has since been used in around 100 sorties. It started its final test flights in September 2012.

According to a statement made by the TAI, during the final test flight on Sept. 27 a breakdown occurred in the prototype vehicle because of a technical failure. “Research to identify the technical failure is ongoing. The final test flights will continue with other UAVs,” the statement said.

TAI test

The TAI has previously tested its ANKA drone and is now preparing an armed version of ANKA for the Turkish military.

Turkey had been planning to launch its unmanned planes this summer, in the hope of using them against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).