Malaysia To Receive ANKA-S Drones From Turkiye By February 2026, A Strategic Game-Changer For The South China Sea

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Malaysia’s Armed Forces (ATM) are set to receive their first Unmanned Aerial System – Medium Altitude Long Endurance (UAS-MALE) ANKA-S drones from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) by February 2026, in what will mark a defining step forward in the country’s ability to conduct long-range surveillance and precision strike missions.

The announcement was made by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who confirmed that the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) will induct three ANKA-S drones into service under a government-to-government deal signed with Turkiye during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2023).

According to him, the acquisition reflects the Ministry of Defence’s commitment to embracing next-generation unmanned systems that can reinforce Malaysia’s ability to monitor and secure its land borders, territorial waters, and national airspace.

“These ANKA-S drones are expected to arrive in February 2026, and they will significantly enhance the RMAF’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities,” said the minister, adding that the unmanned systems will enable real-time monitoring, rapid data transmission, and quicker decision-making on the battlefield.

He was responding to an oral question from Datuk Mohd Khlir Mohd Nor (PN–Ketereh), underscoring growing political attention on Malaysia’s efforts to expand its unmanned capabilities.

As part of the procurement, RMAF officers have already begun intensive operator training with Turkish Aerospace in Turkiye, covering ground control operations, flight handling, and integration of payload systems.

During a working visit to Turkiye recently, Khaled Nordin further revealed that the drones are undergoing radar and satellite communications integration, including German-made communication systems, ensuring that Malaysia’s variant of the ANKA-S will be equipped with state-of-the-art ISR and network-centric warfare capabilities.

The contract, valued at several hundred million ringgit, includes three ANKA-S aircraft, ground control stations, training, spares, and support equipment.

Malaysia has already signalled its intention to base the ANKA-S fleet at RMAF’s No. 11 Squadron in Labuan, a strategic location that overlooks the South China Sea, an increasingly contested maritime domain where China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia all have overlapping claims.

Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is currently the country’s Foreign Minister underlined the importance of this acquisition by describing the drones as Malaysia’s new “eyes and ears” over the South China Sea.

“These MALE drones will be deployed to the South China Sea. We must have the ability to see as far as 350 kilometres from our coastline, and we must know what is happening there before it happens,” he stressed.

The choice of the ANKA-S variant is a significant one.

It is capable of operating at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet for 24 to 30 hours continuously, carrying payloads between 250 and 350 kilograms, and integrating a wide spectrum of ISR and strike equipment.

First flown in 2016, the ANKA-S entered serial production in 2017 and has since been combat-proven in Syria, Iraq, and Libya under the Turkish Air Force.

Malaysia’s version of the ANKA-S will be equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Inverse SAR (ISAR), and Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), enabling it to detect, classify, and track both stationary and moving targets across land and sea.

SAR will allow the drone to generate high-resolution imagery in all-weather conditions, while ISAR will focus on maritime surveillance, classifying warships, fishing vessels, and fast attack craft.

GMTI will detect and track convoys, armoured vehicles, and logistic movements on the ground in real time, giving Malaysia a decisive edge in early-warning and situational awareness.

In addition to ISR, the ANKA-S can be armed with ROKETSAN’s MAM Smart Micro Munitions, including the MAM-L and MAM-C precision-guided bombs.

These lightweight, laser- or GPS-guided weapons have a strike range of 8 to 14 kilometres and are designed to destroy armoured vehicles, bunkers, and fast-moving naval targets with minimal collateral damage.

The ability to carry four precision munitions transforms the ANKA-S from a surveillance drone into a true multi-role strike platform, capable of conducting targeted elimination of high-value threats at a fraction of the cost of deploying manned combat aircraft.

The drone is further equipped with electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, laser designators, laser rangefinders, and a high-powered ViaSat VR-18C SATCOM antenna that ensures secure beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) operations.

At the heart of the drone lies the indigenous TEI-PD170 turbodiesel engine, capable of running on diesel and JP-8 fuel, delivering 150 horsepower and replacing earlier German-built engines.

This reliance on Turkish-made subsystems demonstrates the high level of indigenous content in the ANKA-S program, a point of pride for Ankara’s rapidly expanding defence industry, which includes collaborations with firms such as Aselsan, AYESAS, Havelsan, and C2TECH.

To date, the ANKA family of drones has accumulated more than 200,000 flight hours, undergoing continuous upgrades in radar, avionics, and engine systems, solidifying its status as one of the most reliable MALE drones in active service.

For Malaysia, the deployment of ANKA-S drones from Labuan represents a strategic game-changer.

By maintaining persistent ISR coverage across the South China Sea, Malaysia can monitor Chinese military movements in the Spratlys, detect incursions into its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and safeguard vital offshore oil and gas infrastructure.

The drones will also help secure the Sulu and Sulawesi seas, areas plagued by piracy, smuggling, and militant activity, by providing real-time surveillance data that can be shared across ATM, TLDM, and APMM for rapid response.

In a broader geostrategic sense, the induction of ANKA-S sends a clear signal that Malaysia is determined to modernise its armed forces and safeguard its sovereignty amidst the intensifying US-China rivalry in the Indo-Pacific.

It also enhances Malaysia’s interoperability with regional and allied forces operating advanced drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper, Bayraktar TB2, and Wing Loong II, opening avenues for joint training, data exchange, and multilateral maritime security cooperation.

In the words of defence analysts, Malaysia’s move to deploy the ANKA-S is not just an arms purchase, but a strategic leap into network-centric warfare, where unmanned platforms provide the persistent “eyes and ears” critical to modern-day conflict.

The drones will act as force multipliers for the RMAF, extending Malaysia’s operational reach, reducing reliance on costly fighter jet sorties, and ensuring that the country is never blind in its most contested maritime frontiers.

As Malaysia braces for their arrival in February 2026, the ANKA-S drones are poised to reshape the balance of surveillance and strike capability in the South China Sea – a message that will not go unnoticed by Beijing, Manila, Hanoi, and Washington alike.

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