TUSAŞ ANKA Deliveries Explained: How Many in Turkish Service, Which Operators?

TUSAŞ ANKA orta irtifa uzun havada kalis insansiz hava araci — The TUSAŞ ANKA medium-altitude long-endurance UAV. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC).

ANKA is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Türkiye’s TUSAŞ. As the country’s first indigenous MALE UAV program, ANKA first flew in 2010 and has since evolved into a family led by the satellite-controlled ANKA-S. Per open sources, the number of ANKA in Turkish Armed Forces service has reached 36, and the system has been exported to countries including Tunisia, Chad, Algeria, Kazakhstan, Malaysia and Indonesia. ANKA’s key distinction is its indigenous TEI PD-170 engine. This dossier compiles ANKA’s delivery timeline, operators, variants and technical data from open sources.

ANKA played a pioneering role in Türkiye’s unmanned-systems vision; the engineering experience gained on the program underpinned the development of later platforms such as AKINCI, Aksungur and TB3. Used across a wide mission set — border security, counter-terrorism, maritime surveillance and disaster monitoring — ANKA is not merely a reconnaissance aircraft but a capability platform that matured Türkiye’s indigenous avionics, sensor and munitions ecosystem. This accumulated know-how also laid the groundwork for Türkiye’s rise to the top tier of global UAV exporters.

2010

First flight

36 units

Turkish inventory

PD-170

Indigenous engine

6+ countries

Exports

Contents: Tap each heading to expand or collapse — what ANKA is, variants, operators, first delivery, how many, timeline, specifications, engine (PD-170) and FAQ.

What is ANKA?

ANKA is an indigenous MALE UAV combining ISR and precision strike. It began as one of Türkiye’s first major indigenous UAV programs and has grown into a family capable of both reconnaissance and armed missions, with real-time imagery, electro-optical/thermal cameras and laser designation across roles from border security to maritime surveillance.

Variants: ANKA-S, Aksungur and ANKA-3

ANKA is not a single aircraft but a family that has diversified to meet different mission needs.

Variant	Key feature
ANKA (A)	Baseline MALE reconnaissance/surveillance platform
ANKA-S	Beyond-line-of-sight control via satellite (SATCOM)
ANKA-Aksungur	Larger, twin-engine sibling with heavy payload
ANKA-3	Low-observable (stealth) flying-wing UCAV; 2 prototypes, 10 units targeted in 2026, service ~2027

Which institutions and countries operate it?

ANKA serves with many Turkish security institutions, led by the Air Force, and is exported to a growing number of countries.

Operator (Türkiye)	Status
Air Force Command	Active (lead operator)
Army Command	Active
Gendarmerie	Active
National Police (EGM)	Active
National Intelligence (MİT)	Active
Navy / Coast Guard	Active (maritime surveillance)

Export operator	Note
Tunisia	First export customer (3 units, delivered 2021–2022)
Chad	2 units delivered
Algeria, Kazakhstan	Operational
Malaysia	ANKA-S (South China Sea surveillance, 2026)
Indonesia	Testing/delivery process
Uzbekistan	Procurement agreement

When was the first delivery? How is serial production progressing?

ANKA first flew in 2010, with initial ANKA-A block deliveries in following years. A key milestone was the delivery of the satellite-controlled ANKA-S to the Turkish military in 2017–2018. ANKA is serially produced at TUSAŞ’s Ankara facilities and the inventory grows steadily.

How many ANKA are in Turkish service?

Per open sources, the number of ANKA in Turkish Armed Forces service has reached 36, showing steady growth in indigenous MALE UAV production. Counting export deliveries, total ANKA built is higher.

ANKA insansiz hava araci Teknofest 2023 Izmir sergisinde — ANKA on display at Teknofest 2023 in İzmir. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC).

Upcoming deliveries and ANKA-3

The family’s future centers on the low-observable ANKA-3. After work with two prototypes, TUSAŞ plans to build 10 ANKA-3 in 2026 and aims for first deliveries by year-end, with the aircraft entering inventory from 2027. ANKA-S production and export deliveries continue in parallel.

Period	Development	Note
2010	First flight	TUSAŞ
2017–2018	ANKA-S first delivery	Turkish military
2020–2022	First export (Tunisia, 3 units)	Tunisia
Post-2023	New export operators	Chad, Algeria, Malaysia, Indonesia
2026	ANKA-3 production target 10	First delivery year-end
2027	ANKA-3 enters service	Target

Delivery and milestone timeline

Date	Event	Institution / country	Source
2010	First flight	TUSAŞ	TUSAŞ / Wikipedia
2013–2016	ANKA-A block deliveries	Turkish military	Wikipedia
2017–2018	ANKA-S (SATCOM) first delivery	Turkish military	TUSAŞ
2020	First export contract	Tunisia	Daily Sabah
2021–2022	Tunisia deliveries (3 units)	Tunisian Air Force	Army Recognition
Post-2023	Export expansion	Chad, Algeria, Malaysia, Indonesia	Press
2026	Turkish inventory ~36; ANKA-3 production	Turkish military / TUSAŞ	SavunmaTR / GDH

Technical specifications (ANKA-S)

Feature	Value
Class	MALE unmanned aerial vehicle
Wingspan	≈17.3 m
Length	≈8.6 m
Max take-off weight	≈1,700 kg
Payload	≈200–350 kg
Engine	1 × indigenous TEI PD-170 turbodiesel (~170 hp)
Service ceiling	≈9,140 m (30,000 ft)
Endurance	24+ hours
Comms	SATCOM (ANKA-S) + line of sight
Munitions	MAM-L / MAM-C, Bozok and Roketsan smart munitions

Uydu kontrollu ANKA-S varyanti — The satellite-controlled ANKA-S variant. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC).

Engine: the indigenous PD-170 sets ANKA apart

Unlike the TB2 (Rotax) or AKINCI (imported turboprop), ANKA uses the indigenous TEI PD-170 turbodiesel (~170 hp). This domestically sourced engine delivers ANKA’s high-altitude, long-endurance performance and is also used on platforms such as TB3. The localization gives ANKA a strategic edge in supply security and export independence.

Why it matters for Türkiye

ANKA is a pillar of Türkiye’s UAV ecosystem. With its indigenous engine, national avionics and Roketsan munitions, it forms an end-to-end domestic supply chain. With ANKA-3, the program expands from classic MALE reconnaissance toward low-observable strike capability.

On the export side, ANKA lets the Turkish defense industry build long-term relationships spanning training, maintenance and munitions — making it a capability investment that matters for both national security and strategic foreign relations.