TSAMTO, January 31. The Turkish company Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced on its Twitter page about the new record for flight duration set by the medium-altitude UAV of the long flight duration (MALE) "Anka".
The UAV was in the air for 30 hours and 30 minutes. According to sources of Daily Sabah, the record was broken by the Anka UAV of a new generation, developed on the basis of the Anka-S version, which is in service with the Turkish Armed Forces. It is not yet reported in which configuration the device was tested.
In June 2021, the Turkish defense news resource SavunmaSanayiST.com He announced the delivery by TAI to the Turkish Armed Forces of four Anka-S UAVs of a new generation, the first two of which were transferred to the Navy, two more to the country's Air Force.
In an interview with the news site, the deputy head of TAI UAV Systems, Omer Yildiz, said that the main difference between the Anka-S and a new generation UAV is in the wings and wing profile.
The Anka-S UAV can carry a payload weighing 250 kg and stay in the air for up to 24 hours. In the new configuration, the device can carry up to 350 kg of cargo and stay in the air for up to 30 hours.
The configuration of the Anca-S reconnaissance UAV with a satellite communication system is used by the armed forces and the gendarmerie of Turkey. The Anka A/B configuration is used in the line of sight or using relay systems and is also in service with the Armed Forces and gendarmerie. "Anka-I" is a configuration equipped with radio intelligence facilities, and is used by the Turkish National Intelligence Agency MIT (Milli Istihbarat Teskilati).
A batch of Anka-S UAVs was also sold to Tunisia as part of the first export contract. It was reported about the interest in buying three UAVs of this type of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan.
