Anka III achieves Türkiye's first internal weapons bay munition release with Tolun

Anka III Air-to-Ground Mission Aircraft, developed through the dedicated efforts of Turkish Aerospace engineers, has successfully conducted a munition release from its internal weapons bay (internal station). This successful test marks the first time in Türkiye that an internally produced and nationally developed aircraft has released munitions via an internal weapons station.

Having conducted its maiden flight on December 28, 2023, the delta-winged Anka III continues its test flights. Designed with weapon-carrying capabilities for military applications, the Anka III UAV system has successfully performed external munition releases from its wing stations and has now achieved a successful internal munition release. With this achievement, Anka III once again demonstrated its operational capabilities and engineering excellence.

Anka III stands out with its low observability, high speed enabled by its turbofan engine, and substantial payload capacity in its internal stations. Equipped with the Tolun munition developed by Aselsan, Anka III took off at 12:04 PM. Flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet and a speed of 180 knots, it successfully struck its target with millimeter-level precision, completing another successful test.

In a statement about the achievement, Turkish Aerospace CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu said:

“This first internal weapons bay release by Anka III is a testament to Turkish Aerospace’s capabilities in the defense industry and the exceptional skills of our engineers. Anka III’s success reflects Turkish Aerospace’s vision of independence and innovation in the defense sector. Thanks to Turkish Aerospace’s dedicated efforts and national engineering capabilities, our country continues to make its mark in the fields of aviation and space.”

With a takeoff weight of approximately 7 tons, Anka III is capable of operating at altitudes of 40,000 feet and reaching speeds of 0.7 Mach thanks to its turbofan engine. Designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, intelligence, and strike missions, Anka III enhances survivability in enemy defense systems by reducing radar cross-section through its internal weapons bays. This feature provides a critical advantage in modern battlefields.