Turkey's Anka Block B UAV completes maiden flight

Turkey completed the maiden flight of its Anka Block B unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on 30 January.
According to TAI the first flight included a wide degree of autonomy, with take-off, landing, and much of the flight itself being conducted by an autopilot.
The Anka B is the second generation of the indigenous medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV. It is also the production standard version, with 10 Anka Block B UAVs having been ordered in October 2013 for the Turkish military.
The Anka B features a more expansive payload to the pre-series/basic Anka Block A.
Turkey announced in July 2012 that it would develop an armed version of the Anka. While the Anka A was unarmed, it is unclear if the Block B aircraft will be able to carry ordnance - either currently or at a later date.
The first flight of the production-standard Anka B comes just over four years after the initial Anka prototype first flew in December 2010.
The Anka programme has suffered some issues, including the crash of the first aircraft in September 2012 and some problems with the Anka A's payload, but it now appears to be moving forward in line with a planned first delivery to the Turkish Air Force in 2016. All 10 Anka Bs are scheduled to be delivered by 2018.
Turkey has positioned itself as the only European country to have a MALE UAV in production.
janes

Turkey’s unmanned ambitions shift up gear

Turkey is moving ahead with three different local unmanned aerial vehicles:  TAI Anka, Kale-Baykar’s Bayraktar and Vestel Savunma’s Karayel.
Shortly before parliamentary elections in 2011, several election campaign billboards of the ruling Party featured blue skies with unidentified aircraft, accompanied with the slogan: “Our aircraft is in the skies!”
“Our aircraft” was not in the skies by then, but was crash-landing during a series of flight tests. And “our aircraft” was the Anka, a drone Turkey was trying to indigenously develop and manufacture.
Since then, local efforts have really sent the Anka to the skies, and now, more confident, Turkey’s defense planners have broader ambitions about unmanned systems.
In an April 29 speech, Prime Minister announced Turkey was able to produce unmanned aircraft.
The Anka is a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone. Such UAVs can usually operate for 24 hours at an altitude of 10,000 feet. Anka, meaning Phoenix, is the first MALE-type UAV to be produced by Tusaş Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
Late last year, the Turkish government signed up with TAI for an order of 10 Ankas and ground stations. Under the deal, the first serial production deliveries will take place between 2016 and 2018.
Meanwhile, a version dubbed Anka+ would feature a rocket attached to its body and sensors. But TAI has ambitions beyond the Anka.
TAI officials say their work over the past year-and-a-half to build a high-altitude, long-range (HALE) drone would soon yield results. TAI’s HALE-type UAV will be a six-ton aircraft, although the company has yet to sign a contract for the HALE type.
Two more national programs are moving ahead at high speed, both developed by privately owned Turkish companies, the Bayraktar, and the  the Karayel. The deliveries of six Karayel drones, three ground control stations and supportive systems would begin soon. The Karayel successfully flew at an altitude of 21,500 feet in its most recent test flight.
Procurement officials expect deliveries of both the Bayraktar and the Karayel to begin later this year.
hurriyetdailynews

Turkey Steadily Builds UAV Capabilities

Last year, Turkish government signed up with TAI an order of 10 Ankas UAV and ground stations. Under the deal, the first serial production deliveries will take place between 2016 and 2018.
Recently, Turkey’s procurement planners have moved to add satellite communications capabilities to the Anka.
A version dubbed Anka+ calls for a rocket attached to its body and sensors. TAI has ambitions beyond the Anka and expects to build a high-altitude, long-range (HALE) drone, a 6-ton aircraft.
defensenews

Turkey Signs Contract for First National Drone

After a lengthy delay, the Turkish government signed a critical contract for the acquisition of an initial batch of 10 Anka drones that Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) locally designed, developed and will manufacture.
The deliveries of 10 aircraft and ground stations are scheduled to start in 2016.
The Anka passed acceptance tests late in January. The final tests on Jan. 20-21 involved a full-endurance, 18-hour flight, successful auto landing, data link performance at a distance of 200 kilometers under winds up to 45 knots, and night take-offs and landings. The Anka has completed more than 150 flight hours.
The Anka is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone. Such UAVs usually can operate for 24 hours at an altitude of 10,000 feet. During test flights, the Anka reached an altitude of 30,000 feet.
defensenews

Turkey Pushes T-129 Gunships for Pakistan, but US Could Scupper Deal

Turkey is aggressively lobbying to give T-129 attack helicopters to Pakistan to replace its aging AH-1F fleet and is prepared to agree to generous terms with cash-strapped Pakistan to do so.
However, the US could sink the deal and make a counteroffer of helicopter gunships to Pakistan that could be too good to refuse.
Pakistani media reports state a deal with Turkey could lead to local production of the T-129 at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), but speculation that preparations are already underway to build a new helicopter production facility there could not be confirmed.
Turkey made its latest push during Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Sept. 16-18 visit to Turkey for the Third High Level Cooperation Council meeting. Sharif was given a demonstration of the T-129’s capabilities and a potential deal was discussed.
Turkish officials confirmed talks have “matured to a certain extent,” and Turkey remains committed to any possible deal, not only for financial benefits but also potential strategic gains.
Azerbaijan is reportedly looking to buy 60 T-129 helicopters. Jordan’s King Abdullah, who was in Turkey in March, visited Turkish Aerospace Industries, co-maker of the T-129, and examined both the helicopter gunship and Turkey’s first locally-developed drone, the Anka.
Despite Turkey’s hopes, however, the US might try to tempt Pakistan with a deal for the AH-1Z Viper helicopter.
No one at the defense section in the US Embassy would comment on the matter, but details were confirmed by sources in Pakistan familiar with the deal.
Pakistan has been awarded US $300 million in foreign military financing for FY2013-2014, which could be used to procure the Viper attack helicopters, made by Bell.
defensenews

Turkey completes Anka UAV test campaign

The last of more than 130 ground and air tests, performed last week by the unmanned aerial vehicle, were witnessed by representatives of Turkey's Undersecretariat for Defense Industries and the Turkish air force.

The final flight evaluation on Jan. 20 lasted 18 hours and demonstrated the aircraft's endurance, the effectiveness of its 124-mile data link range.

news.az

TAI to sell Anka UAVs to Egypt

Egypt has agreed to purchase 10 Anka unmanned air vehicles made by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

flightglobal

Turkey begins UAV production

Turkey will begin producing indigenous Anka unmanned aerial vehicles next year.
Turkish Defense Industry Ministry spokesman Murad Bayar announced the incipient production, stating that the Turkish army will begin receiving the Anka UAVs in late 2013.
The Anka UAVs are produced by Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc., a Turkish state-owned aviation and aerospace industry company.

nosint.blogspot

upi.com

Primer vuelo de UAV de diseño nacional de Turquía, el ANKA/ Turkey's 1st MALE UAV Makes Test Flight

El primer UAV de diseño y construcción turco, el ANKA, ha realizado su primer vuelo el pasado 31 de diciembre, con una duración de 14 minutos. Tiene un peso de 600 kg. y ha sido desarrollado por Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
Defense News
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Turkey's first medium-latitude, long-endurance UAV made its first test flight Dec. 31. Dubbed the ANKA, the 600-kilogram UAV flew for 14 minutes. It has been developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).
Defense News