Turkiye’s stealth drone, Anka III completes 1st armed flight

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced on September 1, 2024, that its Anka III unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has successfully completed its first armed flight. According to a statement on TAI’s official social media account, the Anka III was airborne with a Teber-82 guided munition mounted on its left wing, and various tests were conducted during the flight.

According to TAI General Manager Mehmet Demiroglu, the successful completion of Anka III’s first armed flight significantly enhances Türkiye’s defense capabilities. Demiroglu emphasized that this achievement represents a significant advancement toward the goals of Türkiye’s defense industry.

Video footage of the flight shows the Anka III being accompanied by a Hurkus aircraft, with a guided bomb loaded on the wing-mounted weapon station and tests conducted on the concealed weapon stations beneath the fuselage. Additionally, it was reported that Anka III successfully completed a test of retracting its landing gear in flight in August.

This successful armed flight is a milestone in demonstrating the Anka III’s operational capabilities and advancing Türkiye’s defense technology.