Malaysian Air Force Chief Inspects Construction of ANKA MALE-UAS by TAI in Turkey

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) chief, General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, conducted an official visit to the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facility in Ankara, Turkey, on October 17, 2024.

According to a social media statement from the RMAF, the visit was aimed to monitor the progress of the construction of ANKA Medium-Altitude Long Endurance (MALE)-Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) procured by Malaysia, which is scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2025.

This marked the first high-level visit by RMAF leadership since the contract between the Malaysian government and TAI was signed, underscoring the importance of overseeing the development of these new assets.

General Asghar Khan was accompanied by Air Region 2 Commander, Major General Ahmad Khusairi Ahmad Fadli, along with the RMAF ANKA UAS project team.

During the official visit, the delegation also toured several defense companies directly or indirectly involved in the ANKA UAS program, including ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, and C2TECH, according to the RMAF statement.

The visit occurred just before a terrorist attack targeted TAI’s Ankara facility, resulting in at least five fatalities, including two attackers, and injuring 22 others.

The attack, attributed to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), prompted the Turkish military to launch airstrikes against PKK positions in northern Iraq.

Despite the incident, the RMAF delegation proceeded with their program in Türkiye, attending the SAHA Expo in Istanbul from October 22 to 26, 2024.

General Asghar Khan utilized the event to engage with international delegations to strengthen military diplomacy and extend invitations for their participation in the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA’25) next year.

He also held meetings with Türkiye’s Undersecretary of Defence for Air Affairs and the Commander of the Turkish Air Force, General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu.

“The discussions focused on enhancing military ties and future cooperation, particularly in training and the exchange of expertise between the two nations,” said the RMAF statement.

During the SAHA Expo, the RMAF Chief visited several booths showcasing defense technologies.

The expo features products from Türkiye’s defense companies and international exhibitors specializing in aerospace, maritime, and space technologies.

Malaysia is set to become the first nation in the region to deploy the combat-proven ANKA Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAS.

The acquisition contract, signed between the Ministry of Defence and TAI during LIMA 2023, covers the delivery of the UAS platform and associated support equipment.

The ANKA drones are expected to be stationed at a strategic airbase in Labuan to monitor intrusions into Malaysia’s maritime territory in the South China Sea.

Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan emphasized the importance of equipping the nation with comprehensive surveillance capabilities, noting the need for “eyes to see and ears to hear” everything occurring in Malaysian waters, particularly in the South China Sea.

“The three MALE drones we are acquiring will be deployed to the South China Sea. We must have the capability to see 350 kilometers from our coast,” he said, stressing the necessity of situational awareness.

Malaysia is believed to have selected the “Anka-S” variant, capable of flying for 24 to 30 hours at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet, with a payload capacity ranging from 250 to 350 kilograms.

The Anka-S features a composite airframe integrated with a domestically developed autonomous flight control computer, enabling waypoint navigation and autonomous flight operations.

Equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Inverse SAR (ISAR), and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) radar, the Anka-S can detect, identify, and track both stationary and moving targets on land.

Beyond intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the drones will also carry four MAM Smart Micro missiles, developed by Roketsan, for ground attack missions.

The MAM missile series includes several variants: MAM-L (thermobaric), MAM-C (high explosive), and MAM-T (long-range strike).

The Anka-S is also fitted with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras for high-resolution imaging in all weather conditions, an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, a laser target designator, and a laser rangefinder.

Additionally, the drone is equipped with the high-powered ViaSat VR-18C airborne satellite communication antenna, ensuring secure communication beyond the line of sight. — DSA