Turkey’s First Flying-Wing Combat Drone to Make Maiden Flight Soon

Turkey’s stealthy Anka-3, with its "flying-wing" structure, high-speed transfer capability, and high payload, hit the runway for the first time on April 27, and is expected to make its first flight very soon.

Developed by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the Anka-3 has no tail. "One of the advantages of its design and the most important one is low radar visibility. Because the aircraft has neither horizontal nor vertical tails, the visibility decreases considerably. With some extra measures, it is possible to further reduce the visibility,” Bulent Korkem, the uncrewed aerial vehicles engineering director at TAI, was quoted as saying by Turkish state-owned media.

The combat aircraft is currently running taxi tests and will likely make its maiden flight at the beginning of May, he added.

The Anka-3 can fly up to 44,000 feet and can provide service at an altitude of 40,000 ft.

The drone will have a maximum takeoff weight of 6,500kg and a practical payload capacity of 1,200kg.