Turkey, Kazakhstan to Co-produce Anka Drones

The Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced that it will produce Anka combat drones with Kazakhstan, a country that purchased some of these aircraft last year.

The company signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Kazakhstan Engineering on the transfer of technology, including maintenance and repair. Anka UAVs will be manufactured at a facility soon-to-be established in Kazakhstan, Turkish media reported.

Kazakhstan was reported in November to have bought three units of the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) Anka drones in a deal that followed an agreement in October.

The two countries back in May signed a military cooperation agreement, foreseeing sharing of tactical and experience using reconnaissance and attack UAVs.

Anka made its maiden flight in December of 2010 and entered the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) inventory in 2017. The UAV is built to conduct a range of missions, including real-time intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communication relay, target acquisition and tracking. It can also be equipped with weapons such as the Roketsan Smart Micro Munition’s air-launched missile launcher and the Cirit 2.75-inch guided rocket pod in its two underwing weapons stations to engage light-armored vehicles, personnel, military shelters and ground radar stations.