Article Posted on : - Jan 29, 2013

The ANKA unmanned aerial vehicle. A TAI photo

ANKARA (BNS): Turkey's domestically-built Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle 'ANKA' has successfully completed acceptance trials with the last test flights held between January 20 and 22, 2013.

The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI)-built drone undertook a flight for over 18 hours which commenced on January 20 at 9:05 am and concluded with its automatic landing the following day at 3:15 am, after successful demonstration of full endurance and 200 km data link range performances under winds reaching to 45 kts, the company announced on Jan. 25.

During the flight, Air Traffic Control (ATC) coordination was achieved through on-board radio, which was relayed to the Ground Control Station over the data link, demonstrating ANKA's capability to operate safely in an airspace managed by ATC.

On a separate test flight on January 22nd, night take-off and landings were demonstrated using Automatic Take-off and Landing System (ATOLS), TAI said in a statement.

The drone had been undergoing acceptance trials since 2012. About 130 different ground and flight tests were successfully accomplished and witnessed by MoD Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM) and Turkish Air Force representatives, proving ANKA systems' mission readiness.

Contract negotiations are already underway with SSM for the initial serial production of ten ANKA systems for the Turkish Air Force, TAI said.

ANKA is being developed to provide the Turkish armed forces with a long-endurance and persistent ISR capability. With a wing span of 17.3m and length of 8m, the UAV can conduct day and night, all weather ISR missions and track fixed or moving targets.