Türkiye’s ANKA III stealth flying-wing UCAV successfully completed a crucial autopilot test during its 46th flight, confirming a key aspect of its autonomous flight capabilities. This achievement paves the way for ANKA III to develop into a long-range autonomous strike platform and a manned-unmanned teaming asset, potentially influencing future airpower strategies within NATO and globally.
On December 8, 2025, Türkiye’s ANKA III stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) reached a new milestone in its flight-test program. During its 46th sortie, the flying-wing platform successfully completed critical autopilot trials, validating a key element of its autonomous flight capabilities. This achievement moves ANKA III closer to certification as a long-range, high-autonomy strike asset capable of operating with minimal human intervention, including in complex formations. The progress signals that the program is on track for early operational integration before the end of the decade.
ANKA III is a 7-ton-class, turbofan-powered stealth UCAV with a flying-wing design to minimize radar signature. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 6,500 kg, can carry up to 1,600 kg of payload, and operates up to 40,000 ft for roughly 10 hours, reaching a maximum speed of 425 knots at 30,000 ft. Two internal weapon bays and five external hardpoints allow for low-observable strikes and conventional payloads, while shared avionics and ground systems with the ANKA and AKSUNGUR families simplify integration and training.
The UCAV is designed for multi-role operations. It carries advanced ISR sensors, EO/IR and SAR/GMTI radars, electronic warfare suites (COMINT, ELINT, ESM, EA), satellite communications, relay capabilities, and can deploy long-range air-launched systems like the Super Şimşek drone. ANKA III is engineered for manned–unmanned teaming (MUM-T) and AI-supported swarm tactics, expected to operate alongside the KAAN fighter and other Turkish UAVs in coordinated strike and SEAD missions.
ANKA III has progressed rapidly from concept to complex autonomy and weapons trials. After ground tests and taxi trials in 2023, it completed a fully autonomous maiden flight on December 28, 2023. Key milestones in 2024 included formation flights with crewed aircraft, in-flight landing gear retraction tests, and live weapon releases using Teber-82 and TOLUN bombs. In January 2025, it demonstrated low-observable internal weapon deployment, confirming its stealth strike capability.
The platform’s strength lies in the combination of stealth, payload, autonomy, and teaming rather than raw performance. Its internal bays allow signature management unmatched by earlier Turkish MALE UAVs, while high-autonomy flight controls enable complex MUM-T operations and AI-assisted swarm missions. Unlike many Western stealth UCAV demonstrators, ANKA III is being developed from the outset as an operational system integrated into force structures and production plans, with future variants aimed at supersonic strike and escort missions.
Strategically, ANKA III supports Türkiye’s shift toward fully integrated unmanned combat formations alongside fifth-generation fighters. Its stealth, internal strike capacity, and long-endurance operations make it suitable for deep strike, SEAD, and electronic warfare in contested environments, including the Eastern Mediterranean, Aegean, Black Sea, and border regions. Within NATO, it enhances autonomous strike and ISR capabilities, complements crewed aircraft, and demonstrates Türkiye’s growing indigenous UAV expertise, also positioning the platform for export potential.
Managed by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and produced by TUSAŞ, ANKA III is expected to transition from prototype to serial production, with the Turkish Air Force as the lead operator. Its successful 46th sortie confirms the maturity of the flight-control and autonomy systems, signaling the platform’s move from experimental testing to operational relevance, and laying the groundwork for future complex multi-ship and networked missions.
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