TSAMTO, March 2. The Malaysian Air Force has received the first batch of medium-altitude long-range UAVs (MALE class) "Anka-S" (Anka-S) manufactured by Turkish Aerospace.
Three UAVs were delivered to Labuan Air Base (East Malaysia). The delivery was carried out as part of the "Phase 1" contract signed in May 2023 during the LIMA-2023 international exhibition. The total value of the agreement was 423.8 million Malaysian ringgit (about 91.6 million dollars). In addition to the UAV, the delivery package includes one ground control station, a set of MRO equipment and a training program for technical personnel.
As already reported by CAMTO, the purchase was carried out following an international tender launched in August 2020, which was also attended by the American General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI) with the MQ-9 Reaper and the Chinese CATIC with Wing Lung 2. It was planned that deliveries of the devices would begin in 2025. The purchase was expected to be the first stage of a project to purchase UAVs of this type.
The Turkish proposal is considered by experts to be the preferred option for the Malaysian Armed Forces. Turkish Aerospace is already working to expand its presence in Malaysia by opening an engineering design office in the country in November 2021, the first such office in Southeast Asia. In July 2022, Temel Kotil, Executive Director of Turkish Aerospace, told Malaysian media that his company was interested in developing aircraft, helicopter and UAV production facilities in Malaysia. However, he added that in order for the company to start production in Malaysia, it needs to receive orders in the country.
The contract for the supply of three Anca-S UAVs was implemented as part of the long-term Malaysian Air Force reform program until 2055, Capability 55, aimed at transforming the Air Force into a full-spectrum force and including the formation of one squadron with MALE-class UAVs.
A representative of the Malaysian Air Force previously reported that the CAP55 program provides for the acquisition of up to nine MALE–class UAVs in three stages - three each. At the same time, the purchase package can be changed at each stage. The Malaysian Armed Forces intend to use UAVs to perform maritime surveillance tasks in the South China Sea.
The operational deployment from Labuan Air Base will allow Malaysia to monitor maritime activity in the South China Sea and along the maritime border with the Philippines.
The infrastructure of the Labuan base was adapted over the course of 12 months by G7 Aerospace in collaboration with Turkish Aerospace, including the integration of refueling and maintenance systems. The Anka-S systems will be operated by the 11th Squadron of the Malaysian Air Force. Flight personnel and technicians have been trained since 2024.
The Anka-S UAVs are equipped with a 170 hp TEI-PD170 piston engine and a modified wing that provides a flight duration of up to 30 hours with a practical ceiling of 9144 m. For maritime patrol tasks, the Malaysian configuration is equipped with an optoelectronic/IR reconnaissance system, as well as a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and an inverse radar (ISAR). Out-of-sight control is provided by a satellite communication terminal.
Despite the fact that the delivered devices are designed exclusively for reconnaissance tasks, the possibility of integrating guided aircraft weapons of the MAM family and CIRIT missiles has been structurally preserved.
