Malaysia to Bolster Aerial Defence with Imminent ANKA MALE-UAS Deployment — Turkish Ambassador

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) —The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is set to take delivery of the Turkish-manufactured ANKA Medium Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Aerial System (MALE-UAS) later this year, according to Turkish Ambassador to Malaysia, Emir Salim Yuksel.

In an interview with national news agency Bernama on Thursday, Yuksel highlighted the ANKA MALE-UAS—developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) and designated for operation by the RMAF—as an advanced and highly capable platform, underscoring its significance in enhancing Malaysia’s aerial surveillance and defence capabilities.

“I think the transfer of ANKA to Malaysia will take place this year, but these are highly advanced platforms – they are not just a single flying object.

 “They require connectivity, command and control systems, and personnel training. Since these are highly sophisticated UAS, it will take some time to address the side issues that we have to solve,” he said.

The Malaysian Ministry of Defence and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) formalized a contract for the acquisition of three ANKA Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Systems (MALE-UAS), along with related support equipment, during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in May 2023.

Regarding the potential for Malaysia to place additional orders for the ANKA-UAS in the near future to meet the requirements of its armed forces, the ambassador did not dismiss the possibility but emphasized that the decision remains at the discretion of the Southeast Asian nation.

Nevertheless, he noted that defence relations between Malaysia and Turkiye have been particularly strong and that Ankara is eager to “cooperate (with Kuala Lumpur) as much as possible.

“Of course, discussions on future collaboration are ongoing. I believe there are vast opportunities for cooperation between the two countries, and so, I think there is no hurdle or impediment between two countries to go ahead,” he said.

Malaysia has signaled its intention to deploy its newly acquired ANKA Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Systems (MALE-UAS) at Labuan Airbase, positioning them as a critical surveillance asset to monitor foreign incursions into its territorial waters.

The drones will play a pivotal role in safeguarding Malaysia’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea, a strategically vital region hosting extensive oil and gas operations.

Former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan underscored the necessity of bolstering the nation’s maritime domain awareness, stressing the importance of having “eyes to see and ears to hear” every development within 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 reportedly set to acquire the ANKA-S variant, a sophisticated platform capable of sustained operations at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet for durations ranging between 24 and 30 hours.

The system boasts a payload capacity of 250 to 350 kilograms, enabling a versatile range of surveillance and operational capabilities.

The ANKA-S Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial System (MALE-UAS) features a composite airframe integrated with an indigenously developed autonomous flight control computer, enabling waypoint navigation and fully autonomous flight operations.

Equipped with advanced sensor suites, including a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Inverse SAR (ISAR), and a Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) radar, the ANKA-S is capable of detecting, identifying, and tracking both stationary and moving targets with high precision.

Beyond its core Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) role, the ANKA MALE-UAS is also designed for strike capabilities, capable of being armed with up to four MAM Smart Micro Missiles, developed by ROKETSAN, for precision ground-attack missions.

When asked about the presence of Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel in Turkiye, the ambassador confirmed that several personnel are currently stationed there, not only for the ANKA MALE-UAS project but also to oversee the construction of three Littoral Mission Ship Batch II (LMSBII) vessels procured by the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) from a Turkish shipyard.

Malaysia formalized the acquisition of the three LMSBII vessels last year, with the platform based on the Turkish Navy’s ADA-class corvette design, enhancing the RMN’s maritime capabilities.

 

 

Malaysia formalized the acquisition of the three LMSBII vessels last year, with the platform based on the Turkish Navy’s ADA-class corvette design, enhancing the RMN’s maritime capabilities.

The three Littoral Mission Ships (LMSBII) will be outfitted with state-of-the-art electronics and sensor systems, alongside the Turkish-made ATMACA anti-ship missile, developed by Türkiye’s defense contractor ROKETSAN.

The ATMACA, a next-generation anti-ship missile, is capable of delivering precision strikes against naval targets at ranges of up to 250 kilometers, significantly enhancing the Royal Malaysian Navy’s offensive capabilities.

Meanwhile, Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Chief, General Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan, conducted an official visit to Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in Ankara on October 17, 2024.

According to an official RMAF statement on social media, the visit was aimed at overseeing the progress of Malaysia’s ANKA Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) program.

The first batch of ANKA UAS is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025, marking a key milestone in Malaysia’s efforts to strengthen its airborne surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

— DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA