SHAH ALAM: Useful load capacity increase for Anka UAS. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) medium altitude long endurance, Anka unmanned system (UAS) – offered for RMAF MALE UAS requirements – load carrying capacity has been increased to 250kg allowing it to carry more ordnance. The Daily Sabah is reporting that the payload capacity of the Anka has officially been increased to 250 kilograms from 200 kilograms, quoting a Turkish website, SavunmaSanayiST.
From Daily Sabah:
The drone which is manufactured locally is currently in active use by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), Gendarmerie General Command and the National Intelligence Organization (MIT).
The Anka UCAV can stay in the air for more than 24 hours at an altitude of 30,000 feet (9,144 meters) with a 250-kilogram payload. According to open sources, the drone could previously be equipped with up to four Roketsan-developed smart mini ammunitions, MAM-L. However, the report highlighted that the 50-kilogram increase in Anka’s payload capacity is “theoretically” equivalent to two more units of MAM-L ammunition.
Meanwhile, a quadruple MAM-L deck is currently being developed for Turkey’s domestic unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). If this unit could be used on Anka UCAV, it could then carry up to eight MAM-L ammunitions.
The UCAV has three configurations: Anka-S configuration has Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) capability through satellite links and is being used by the TSK and the Gendarmerie units; Anka-B configuration can use Link Relay capabilities and is also used by the TSK and the Gendarmerie, and the Anka-I, which is the configuration that performs signal intelligence and is used by the MIT.
The Anka UAS is among the eight UAVs which were put forward following a RFI back in December, 2018. One of them is of course the Kronshtadt Group Orion E UAV from Russia.
As reported previously as the tender for the MALE UAV for the RMAF requirements is an international one it is likely that TAI would have competed by itself. It is likely that Deftech remained as its local partner though.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (10)
Interesting..So Mr M when the earliest we can hear the result of tender for uav and mpa? Hope this tenders both proceeding smoothly..
Is there any probability of getting something like the Aksungur? It can carry 750 kg longer. Perhaps this capacity for future growth is a better option.
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In the future maybe but not during this tender process as it clearly stated that only in service UAVs will be considered. This will be the first time RMAF operates a real McCoy UAV, it doesn't need to be a guinea pig at the same time
It’s very early days but at some point in the future: UASs configured to carry sonobuoys and torps; cued to a MPA; will obviate to some extent the need for a MPA with the carrying capacity for the task and the range/endurance.
Back to the present; at minimum whatever UAS we get should have the weight capacity to carry a radar and ESM whilst also having ‘x’ range and endurance. As part of the tender; such a requirement would have been included.
Why don’t we get the best there is out there like the Sea Guardian so that we know the full capabilities of these UAV
Marhalim, can you confirm that TB2 is not in the tender?
As many had known, to get the most number of unite per bucks are the TB2s.
@Azlan
"should have the weight capacity to carry a radar and ESM"
A good approach to supplement our MPAs but it also meant increase in price. Lets take Anka for example, with the recent purchase by Tunisia last year, the price of 2 Anka and 1 command center is USD$80 million. Adding radars and ESM definitely would increase the price, not just for Anka but other MALE also. A nice addition to RMAF capability but hopefully we could afford for it in the future.
With UAV/UAS better if we could get something cheaper and not to heartbreaking if it gets disposed thru attrition/accidents, we must learn to walk 1st before we literally fly.
As it is right now, we can even screw up the introductory use of MMEA Fulmars.
Azlan-
It’s very early days but at some point in the future: UASs configured to carry sonobuoys and torps; cued to a MPA; will obviate to some extent the need for a MPA with the carrying capacity for the task and the range/endurance.
Great idea..
UAV with surface radar + MPA aka Missile Truck... air launch NSM / Brahmos / SOM-er
Kalau ada duit la..
Faris - “UAV with surface radar”
UASs with radar and ESM have been around for a while now. The natural and logical thing to do.
Faris - “ + MPA aka Missile Truck… air launch NSM / Brahmos / SOM-er”
The trick is to coordinate/integrate everything and to cut the sensor to shooter cycle as minimal as possible.
i do believed Anka is the most effective
and affordable for malaysia.of course tb2 is much cheaper but yet we need anka ib south china sea to monitor china.With longer range and in navalize platform,currently it is best suitable with affordable price too...
key word affordable
‘Wolveray,
Actually the Key word” is “affordable” and must meet our operational requirements.... “Affordable” also doesn’t just mean procurement costs but per hour operating costs; how much post flight maintenance is needed; costs of spares; will operating costs rise as the platform ages, etc, ..... We need a UAS to monitor various things; not just to monitor China