Malaysia to Deploy Turkish ANKA-S Drones by 2026 to Monitor South China Sea Intrusions

Malaysia is poised to take delivery of its first Turkish-built ANKA-S Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial Systems (MALE-UAS) by March 2026, marking a decisive leap in the country’s effort to bolster maritime surveillance and defend its territorial integrity in the South China Sea.

Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the ANKA-S drones—each capable of flying over 30 hours at altitudes of 30,000 feet—are currently undergoing radar integration and communications system fitting, with key components sourced from Germany.

Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin confirmed that Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel assigned to operate the platform are now receiving hands-on operational training with the manufacturer in Türkiye.

“When we procure assets of this nature, the operational training element is always provided by the manufacturer,” he told Malaysian reporters during his official visit to the Turkish defence industrial base.

The acquisition is part of a broader modernization drive to enhance Malaysia’s long-range, persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, especially over the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the contested South China Sea.

Malaysia’s purchase of three ANKA-S drones and associated systems was finalized through a government-to-government contract signed at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) 2023.

These high-end drones are slated to be based at RMAF Labuan, where they will serve as the nation’s “eyes and ears” across the airspace and maritime corridors frequently transited by Chinese vessels and suspected militia ships.

Malaysia’s intention to deploy ANKA-S to the EEZ aligns with its strategic imperative to monitor resource-rich waters increasingly challenged by overlapping claims and Beijing’s assertive maritime patrols.

Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan previously emphasized the critical need for comprehensive domain awareness in Malaysia’s maritime territory, especially in the high-stakes theatre of the South China Sea.

“The three MALE drones we acquired will be deployed to the South China Sea. We must possess the capability to see and hear. Our eyes must have the ability to observe up to 350km from the shoreline,” he stated.

He warned that without real-time ISR coverage, Malaysia risks being caught off guard in one of the world’s most strategically volatile regions.

The ANKA-S was selected for its extended endurance, advanced autonomy, and flexible payload configurations, making it a strategic multiplier for operations over maritime chokepoints and remote islands.

Powered by a locally produced PD170 turboprop engine developed by Turkish Engine Industries (TEI), the UAV uses diesel and JP-8 aviation fuel and delivers up to 150 horsepower, enabling it to loiter over target zones for up to 30 hours.

The drone’s composite airframe and domestically designed autonomous flight control system allow for fully automated waypoint navigation and automatic return-to-base in the event of communication loss with the ground station.

First flown in September 2016, the ANKA-S entered serial production in 2017 and was inducted into the Turkish Air Force in February 2018, with deliveries continuing since.

Malaysia’s selected variant comes equipped with cutting-edge sensors, including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Inverse SAR (ISAR), and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) radar systems—enabling the UAV to detect, classify, and track both static and mobile threats with high fidelity.

Additionally, the ANKA-S features an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera suite for real-time visual surveillance under all weather conditions, bolstered by a laser designator, range finder, and Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system.

A powerful ViaSat VR-18C satellite communications antenna mounted in the radome enables secure beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) connectivity, a mission-critical enabler for extended ISR and strike operations over Malaysia’s far-flung maritime domain.

In terms of offensive capability, each drone can be armed with up to four MAM Smart Micro Munitions developed by Turkish defence contractor ROKETSAN, making it capable of precision strikes against surface targets.

With payload flexibility exceeding 200kg, the platform is mission-adaptable for roles including real-time ISR, communications relay, target acquisition, tracking, and even limited kinetic strike operations if required.

The integration of MALE drones into Malaysia’s strategic order of battle underscores Kuala Lumpur’s urgent need to modernize and augment domain awareness amid rising tensions in its maritime periphery.

At a time when Chinese Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels continue to probe Malaysian oil and gas operations in the EEZ—particularly near the Luconia Shoals and Vanguard Bank—the need for high-end ISR platforms has become a national imperative.

The March 2026 delivery timeline aligns with the government’s broader defence planning cycle under the 13th Malaysia Plan, which is scheduled to be tabled by the end of July 2025.

Any future expansions of the ANKA-S fleet will be determined in line with budgetary allocations under that upcoming defence strategy blueprint.

Regionally, Malaysia joins a growing list of nations turning to Türkiye for drone technology, including Azerbaijan, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan, many of whom have praised the performance of the ANKA and Bayraktar platforms in combat zones.

Türkiye’s rise as a global drone powerhouse has disrupted traditional UAV export markets, offering high-end capabilities at competitive prices, with the ANKA-S reportedly priced between USD 20–30 million (approximately RM 94–141 million) per unit, depending on configuration.

The Malaysian ANKA deal reflects a strategic pivot toward strengthening bilateral defence ties with Ankara, while also signaling Malaysia’s intention to field unmanned systems as a central pillar of its force modernization strategy.

As the South China Sea continues to evolve into a flashpoint for strategic rivalry, Malaysia’s investment in long-endurance ISR platforms represents more than a procurement decision—it marks a calculated assertion of sovereign capability in the face of growing external pressure.

With ANKA-S on the horizon, Malaysia is on track to transform its aerial surveillance and deterrence framework, redefining how it secures its maritime interests in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific battlespace.