TAI’s Anka III achieves milestone with successful launch of Tolun munition

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced that its Anka III unmanned combat aircraft successfully launched Tolun munitions from its internal weapons bay at an altitude of 20,000 feet and a speed of 180 knots.

The achievement, shared via social media, underscores the aircraft’s enhanced operational capabilities and engineering expertise.

Why it matters

This successful test marks a significant milestone for Türkiye’s defense industry, showcasing the growing capabilities of domestically developed technologies such as the Anka III and Aselsan’s Tolun munition. The success highlights Türkiye’s increasing self-reliance in defense technologies and reinforces its role in advancing regional military power.

Details

• Anka III’s achievement: TAI celebrated the successful firing of munitions from the Anka III’s internal weapon bay, a key development in its stealth and operational capabilities. Aselsan also praised the aircraft’s demonstration of proficiency in low-visibility platforms with this internal weapon launch.
• Tolun munition: The Tolun munition, which was used in the test, has a range of 100 kilometers and a payload capacity similar to that of MK-81 bombs. It is designed to penetrate reinforced concrete and features GPS/INS navigation. Additionally, the Tolun-IIR configuration offers a “man-in-the-loop” capability for enhanced targeting precision.

TAI shared the success on Twitter, stating: “Anka III, launching munitions from an internal weapons station for the first time! With Aselsan’s Tolun munition, we successfully fired at 20,000 feet and 180 knots. This demonstrates Anka III’s operational capability and engineering skills. We continue working day and night for our country.”

ANKA III’ten bir ilk! 💪🏻

ANKA III gövde içerisinden mühimmat atışını başarıyla gerçekleştirdi.
 @aselsan’ın yerli ve millî üretimi TOLUN mühimmatı ile 20 bin feet irtifada 180 knot hızla atış gerçekleştirildi.

Gövde içerisinden yapılan atışla ANKA III operasyonel kabiliyetini… pic.twitter.com/7WnAXHKhj8

— Türk Havacılık Uzay Sanayii (@TUSAS_TR) January 13, 2025

Praise from defense leadership

Haluk Gorgun, head of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), also took to Twitter to commend the achievement, emphasizing the importance of the test in showcasing Türkiye’s engineering strength. He highlighted the teamwork between TAI, Aselsan, and the SSB in making this milestone possible.

ANKA III gövde içinden yaptığı mühimmat atışıyla ülkemizin mühendislik gücünü bir kez daha kanıtladı.

20 bin feet irtifada, 180 knot hızla yapılan bu atış, bağımsız savunma sanayii teknolojilerimizin ulaştığı zirveyi simgeliyor. ASELSAN’ın yerli ve millî TOLUN mühimmatı ile… https://t.co/BAvN4pN8KF

— Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün (@halukgorgun) January 13, 2025

Zoom in

The successful test of Anka III, which now demonstrates advanced capabilities in stealth and precision strike, further solidifies Türkiye’s position as a leader in unmanned combat systems. The integration of Aselsan’s Tolun munition adds another layer of sophistication to Türkiye’s defense capabilities and strengthens its technological autonomy.

Zoom out

This milestone is in line with Türkiye’s broader defense strategy of increasing reliance on indigenous technologies while reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. As Anka III proves its advanced capabilities, it enhances Türkiye’s role as a significant player in global defense innovation and regional security dynamics.