ANKA-3 by Turkish Aerospace (TAI): status and timeline

ANKA-3

Give the Turkish Air Force a stealthy uncrewed aircraft that can strike defended targets and act as a wingman to the KAAN fighter, without risking a pilot.

PilotStage 3 of 5

Production version being built; first flight planned for early 2027, deliveries from the second half of 2027.

Updated 23 Aug 2026Checked 11 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · First flight of the production configuration

First flight (70 minutes)28 Dec 2023Complete.
First live-fire test with a guided bomb20 Sep 2024Complete.
Critical design review complete; design frozenNov 2025Complete.
Serial-production contract for 50+ signed at SAHA 2026 (reported)7 May 2026Complete.
First flight of the production configurationTarget Q1 2027Current milestone.
First deliveries to the Turkish Air Force (second half)Target 2027Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

Q1 2027First flight of the production configuration (next)
2027First deliveries to the Turkish Air Force (second half)

Current obstacles

Ukrainian engine dependenceIt flies on a single Ukrainian-made turbofan. Turkey’s TF6000 engine is the stated fallback; a twin-engine version is studied but not a priority.
Production redesignThe series version has a reworked shape and coatings, more payload and longer range, so it must be flight-proven again before deliveries.
Test lossesOne of the two prototypes came down in a controlled forced landing during the Anatolian Eagle exercise in June 2025, damaging its landing gear and engine.

Physics limits

Stealth versus aerodynamicsShapes that hide from radar (no tail, hidden engine inlets, internal bays) are less stable and less efficient. Flight computers and extra weight pay for the low echo.
Low frequencies still see itRadar stealth works best against short-wavelength fire-control radars. Long-wave surveillance radars can still detect a small flying wing, though not aim precisely at it.
Control links can be jammedA drone wingman relies on radio links to its controller. Jamming or distance forces it to act on its own, which limits what it is trusted to do.

How it works

3 parts

Shape

A flying wing

With no tail or fins, there are few flat surfaces or corners to bounce radar back. Computers keep the unstable tailless shape steady.

Weapons

Internal bay

Up to eight small guided bombs ride inside the body, keeping the shape clean. Wing pylons carry more when stealth matters less.

Teaming

Controlled from another aircraft

In October 2024 it was flown as a wingman directed from another aircraft, the role planned beside the KAAN fighter.

Spec sheet

Spec	ANKA-3
Max weapons load	1,700 kg^R (reported)
Endurance (announced at first flight)	10 h^R (reported)
Max cruise speed	Mach 0.7^R (reported)
Service ceiling	40,000 ft^R (reported)
Operational radius (air patrol)	1,075 km^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

4 updates

About Turkish Aerospace (TAI)

The team behind ANKA-3

Turkish Aerospace (TAI)

ANKA-3 stealth drone, KAAN fighter

Turkish Aerospace (TUSAS) is Turkey's state-owned aircraft maker, near Ankara. It builds the KAAN stealth fighter, Hurjet and Hurkus trainers, ATAK and Gokbey helicopters, and the ANKA and Aksungur drones, including the ANKA-3 jet-powered stealth drone.

Owned by the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation (54.49%) and the defence procurement agency SSB (45.45%).
May 2026 SAHA contract: 20 KAAN Block-10 fighters for 2028-2030, plus reported serial production of 50+ ANKA-3.
ANKA-3 is built to fly beside KAAN as an uncrewed wingman for strike and air-defence suppression.

tusas.com (opens tusas.com)Company profile →

Founded: 197353 yrs
Headquarters: Türkiye
Status: Subsidiaryof Turkish Armed Forces Foundation
Valuation: Turkish Armed Forces Foundation-owned
Staff: ~17,000Jan 2024
Works in: AviationMilitary drones & autonomy
Coverage: 2 programs · 9 updateslatest 9d agochecked 11 Oct
Customers: Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) (opens gbp.com.sg)
Investors: Turkish Armed Forces Foundation
Suppliers: Roketsan
People: Mehmet Demiroglu (opens en.wikipedia.org)President & CEO

Spec

ANKA-3

Max weapons load

1,700 kg^R (reported)

Endurance (announced at first flight)

10 h^R (reported)

Max cruise speed

Mach 0.7^R (reported)

Service ceiling

40,000 ft^R (reported)

Operational radius (air patrol)

1,075 km^R (reported)

ANKA-3

Milestones

Most important updates

Upcoming

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

A flying wing

Internal bay

Controlled from another aircraft

Spec sheet

Update log

Sun 23 Aug

Thu 7 May

Thu 28 Dec 2023

About Turkish Aerospace (TAI)

Current obstacles

Physics limits

How it works

A flying wing

Internal bay

Controlled from another aircraft

Spec sheet

Update log

Sun 23 Aug

Thu 7 May

Thu 28 Dec 2023

About Turkish Aerospace (TAI)