Malaysia’s ANKA-S Drones Debut on RMAF Social Media, Poised to Guard the South China Sea

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Malaysia’s long-awaited ANKA-S Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE-UAS) drones have made their first appearance on the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) official social media platforms, underscoring the nation’s imminent leap into persistent unmanned surveillance and strike operations over the South China Sea.

The ANKA-S, developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), will be inducted into service with the RMAF as part of a government-to-government acquisition sealed at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2023).

The deal, valued at more than RM400 million (approximately USD 85 million), covers three ANKA-S drones along with ground support equipment, training, and associated infrastructure.

With this acquisition, Malaysia becomes the first Southeast Asian nation to operate the ANKA-S, joining a select group of countries deploying Turkish long-endurance UAVs for strategic reconnaissance and precision missions.

In its latest social media post, the RMAF confirmed that seven officers and 19 personnel had successfully completed the ANKA O-Level Maintenance Course at TAI headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye.

The training, conducted between June 30 and August 15, 2025, covered Mechanical and Engine Systems, Avionics Systems, and Ground Control Systems, preparing Malaysian crews for frontline maintenance of the new platform.

“The course was designed to prepare RMAF engineers and technicians to undertake O-Level maintenance of the ANKA-S, which will enter Malaysian service early next year,” the service stated.

TAI’s Academic Director praised the commitment of Malaysian personnel throughout the course and expressed confidence that RMAF will be able to operate and sustain the advanced UAV system effectively.

He also stressed that maintenance proficiency is critical to ensuring the platform’s operational readiness and long-term combat effectiveness.

According to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Malaysia is scheduled to receive its first batch of ANKA-S drones in February 2026.

“As a concrete step, the Ministry of Defence through the RMAF is procuring three ANKA units from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), with expected delivery in February 2026,” he told Parliament in response to a recent query.

The Defence Minister emphasized that the arrival of the ANKA-S will significantly strengthen the RMAF’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, allowing real-time monitoring, rapid data dissemination, and faster tactical responses.

Labuan Air Base: A Strategic Gateway to the South China Sea

Malaysia has signaled its intent to base the incoming ANKA-S fleet at Labuan Air Base, positioning the drones as a forward-deployed “eyes and ears” platform to monitor intrusions and assert sovereignty across the nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The South China Sea remains a strategic flashpoint, hosting vital oil and gas fields, contested maritime claims, and the presence of Chinese coast guard and naval forces in disputed waters.

Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan previously highlighted the critical need for persistent aerial surveillance in the area, stating: “The three MALE drones we are acquiring will be deployed to the South China Sea. We must have eyes that can see 350 kilometers beyond the coastline. We must know everything that happens there before it happens to us.”

The drones will be operated by RMAF’s No. 11 Squadron, stationed at Labuan Air Base, giving Malaysia round-the-clock ISR coverage of one of the world’s most contested maritime zones.

ANKA-S Capabilities: Long-Endurance Watchdog with Combat Potential

The ANKA-S is designed to operate at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet, with mission endurance between 24 and 30 hours and payload capacity ranging from 250 to 350 kilograms.

First flown in 2016, the ANKA-S is equipped with a domestically-developed autonomous flight control computer and composite airframe, enabling waypoint navigation, autonomous operations, and automatic return-to-base protocols in the event of communications loss.

Its sensor suite includes Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Inverse SAR (ISAR), and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), allowing the detection, identification, and tracking of both stationary and mobile targets under all weather conditions.

SAR provides high-resolution ground imagery even through cloud cover and rain, while ISAR specializes in classifying maritime targets, distinguishing between frigates, merchant vessels, and fast attack craft.

GMTI enables the detection and tracking of moving targets on land, including armored vehicles, convoys, and logistical columns, dramatically increasing situational awareness and battlefield command.

In addition to ISR duties, the ANKA-S is combat capable, able to carry four Roketsan MAM-series smart micro munitions.

These lightweight guided weapons, with ranges of 8 to 14 kilometers, are designed for UAVs and light aircraft, offering armor-piercing warheads and GPS/INS or laser guidance for precision strikes against both land and maritime targets.

This transforms the ANKA-S into more than a passive observer, giving the RMAF the option to conduct precision strikes against hostile targets without risking manned aircraft.

The drone is further equipped with EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infrared) cameras for high-resolution imagery, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), laser designator, and laser range finder, providing an integrated kill-chain capability.

Within its radome, the ANKA-S houses a ViaSat VR-18C airborne SATCOM antenna, enabling secure Beyond-Line-of-Sight (BLOS) communications, ensuring persistent control and data relay over extended ranges.

Powered by the domestically produced TEI PD-170 turboprop engine, the UAV delivers 150 horsepower while running on both diesel and JP-8 jet fuel, highlighting Turkiye’s drive for self-sufficiency in critical aerospace technologies.

Since entering service with the Turkish Air Force in 2017, the ANKA family has accumulated over 200,000 flight hours, seeing combat use in Syria, Iraq, and Libya, where it has proven its effectiveness against both conventional and asymmetric threats.

Turkish defense industry heavyweights such as Aselsan, Havelsan, and Roketsan have contributed to the program, making the ANKA a centerpiece of Ankara’s growing defense exports.

Strategic Impact of ANKA-S Drones Operating From Labuan Air Base

Should Malaysia deploy its newly acquired ANKA-S Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones from Labuan Air Base, the move would deliver profound consequences for the country’s security, defence posture, and regional geopolitics — particularly in the South China Sea, where major power rivalries are sharpening.

Labuan Air Base sits on Malaysia’s eastern frontier, directly fronting the South China Sea, making it an ideal forward operating hub for long-endurance UAV missions.

With an endurance of more than 24 continuous flight hours, the ANKA-S offers Malaysia the ability to maintain long-range aerial patrols at a fraction of the cost of deploying manned fighter jets.

This endurance advantage ensures persistent coverage of Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, where foreign coast guard vessels, armed fishing fleets, and military assets frequently test Kuala Lumpur’s resolve and response.

In operational terms, the introduction of ANKA-S will give Malaysia what defence planners call a “persistent ISR capability” — the ability to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance without the need to rotate aircraft or reduce operational tempo.

Equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Inverse SAR (ISAR), and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), the drone provides all-weather, day-and-night coverage across both land and maritime domains.

SAR enables the generation of high-resolution imagery through cloud cover and heavy rain.

ISAR specialises in maritime surveillance, distinguishing between frigates, commercial vessels, and fast attack craft with precision.

GMTI, meanwhile, allows the ANKA-S to track moving ground targets such as convoys, armoured vehicles, and logistic columns in real time, giving commanders enhanced tactical awareness.

Operating out of Labuan gives the drone a geographical advantage.

From this forward location, ANKA-S can monitor not only the South China Sea but also the Sulu and Sulawesi seas — regions long vulnerable to smuggling, piracy, and militant infiltration.

Its radar and sensor feeds would allow suspicious movements to be detected earlier, with real-time data relayed directly to Malaysia’s Armed Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysian Navy (TLDM), and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) for immediate action.

Crucially, the ANKA-S is not limited to surveillance alone.

It can also conduct precision strike missions when armed with ROKETSAN’s MAM-L and MAM-C Smart Micro Munitions.

These lightweight, high-precision weapons have an effective range of 8 to 14 kilometres, are capable of penetrating armoured vehicles and fortified positions, and can destroy fast-moving naval craft — transforming the ANKA-S into a true multi-role combat platform.

The cost of operating these drones is only a fraction of that required to keep fighter jets in the air, making them a force multiplier for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) as it seeks to close surveillance gaps and maintain pressure on potential adversaries.

From a geostrategic perspective, deploying ANKA-S drones to Labuan sends a clear message that Malaysia is serious about defending its maritime sovereignty in the South China Sea, a region increasingly shaped by the rivalry between the United States and China.

With Beijing fortifying the Spratly Islands with runways, anti-ship missile batteries, and long-range radar installations, Malaysia requires an ISR platform capable of detecting and monitoring these developments on a sustained basis.

Regional actors such as Vietnam and the Philippines, who also contest claims in the South China Sea, are likely to view Malaysia’s move as a capability enhancement that could shift the regional security calculus.

The ANKA-S deployment would also strengthen interoperability with friendly nations operating advanced UAVs, creating opportunities for intelligence-sharing, joint training, and combined maritime patrols.

In the broader geopolitical context, Malaysia’s acquisition gives it greater leverage in diplomatic negotiations by demonstrating that it possesses the means to independently monitor and defend its EEZ and contested waters.

From a doctrinal perspective, the arrival of ANKA-S marks Malaysia’s transition toward high-technology warfare, integrating persistent ISR with precision strike capabilities — in line with global trends toward information-driven, network-centric, and long-range precision combat.

In conclusion, if deployed to Labuan Air Base, the ANKA-S will fundamentally reshape Malaysia’s security architecture, close long-standing gaps in aerial surveillance, provide real-time intelligence to joint forces, and send a strategic signal to both regional neighbours and global powers that Malaysia is prepared to defend its maritime interests against any threat.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA