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* On November 22, 2011, the Anka held the follow-up test flight for 6 hours at 20,000 ft. The vehicle demonstrated its automatic take-off and landing system for the first time.<ref>{{tr}} [http://www.dha.com.tr/6-saat-ucan-anka-otomatik-pilot-sistemiyle-inis-kalkis-yapti-son-dakika-haberi_237012.html Anka 6 saat havada kaldı] (''Dogan News Agency'') and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIUCuRfgP50 flight video]. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011</ref><ref>{{tr}} [http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/tr/guncel-haberler/104164-20-bin-fitte-6-saat-kaldi 20 bin fitte 6 saat kaldi]. ''Anatolian News Agency'', 24 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011</ref>
* On November 22, 2011, the Anka held the follow-up test flight for 6 hours at 20,000 ft. The vehicle demonstrated its automatic take-off and landing system for the first time.<ref>{{tr}} [http://www.dha.com.tr/6-saat-ucan-anka-otomatik-pilot-sistemiyle-inis-kalkis-yapti-son-dakika-haberi_237012.html Anka 6 saat havada kaldı] (''Dogan News Agency'') and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIUCuRfgP50 flight video]. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011</ref><ref>{{tr}} [http://www.anadoluajansi.com.tr/tr/guncel-haberler/104164-20-bin-fitte-6-saat-kaldi 20 bin fitte 6 saat kaldi]. ''Anatolian News Agency'', 24 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011</ref>
* On January 5, 2012, Defence Industry Executive Committee authorized Undersecretariat for Defence Industries to commence talks with Turkish Aerospace Industries for the serial production of 10 Anka vehicles.<ref>{{tr}} [http://www.ssm.gov.tr/anasayfa/hizli/duyurular/PressReleases/Documents/Bas%C4%B1nAciklamas%C4%B105012012.pdf SSM press release]. Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, 5 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012</ref>
* On January 5, 2012, Defence Industry Executive Committee authorized Undersecretariat for Defence Industries to commence talks with Turkish Aerospace Industries for the serial production of 10 Anka vehicles.<ref>{{tr}} [http://www.ssm.gov.tr/anasayfa/hizli/duyurular/PressReleases/Documents/Bas%C4%B1nAciklamas%C4%B105012012.pdf SSM press release]. Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, 5 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012</ref>
* On September 27, 2012, an Anka prototype crashed during a flight test due to a technical problem.<ref>[http://www.suasnews.com/2012/10/19014/anka-uav-prototype-crashes-during-test-flight/ ANKA UAV Prototype Crashes During Test Flight] - Suasnews.com, October 3, 2012</ref>


==Development of Anka +A==
==Development of Anka +A==

Revision as of 18:24, 3 October 2012

TAI ANKA UAV
File:Ankamale.PNG
Role Unmanned aerial vehicle
National origin Turkey
Manufacturer Turkish Aerospace Industries
First flight 30 December 2010
Introduction mid 2012 (exp.)
Status Undergoing flight tests
Primary user Turkish Air Force
Number built 5 prototypes[1]

The TAI Anka is a family of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries for use by the Turkish Air Force.(Anka Eng.translation:phoenix) The Anka-A (TIHA-A) is a surveillance version, while Anka +A (TIHA-B) is a projected unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).[2] Anka-A is set to be commissioned by the Turkish Air Force in 2012.[3] The name of the UAV Anka is inspired from a mythical flying creature Anka. Israeli officials familiar with UAV systems and who have examined the Anka have stated publicly that it is "of a very advanced design"[4].

Design

A TIHA system consists of three air vehicles (A/V), Ground Control Station (GCS), Ground Data Terminal (GDT), Automatic Take-off and Landing System (ATOLS), Transportable Image Exploitation System (TIES), Remote Video Terminal (RVT) and various Ground Support Equipment (GSE).

The TIHA system, which is designed for night and day missions including adverse weather conditions, performs real time image intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, moving/stationery target detection, recognition, identification and tracking missions.[5]

While the TIHA system has an open architecture to support other potential payloads and missions, within the context of the existing project the air vehicle is configured to carry the following payloads onboard:[6]

  • Electro-optic Color Day Camera (EO Day TV)
  • Electro-optic/Forward Looking Infrared/Laser Range Finder/Laser Designator and Spotter Camera (EO/FLIR/LRF/LDS)
  • Synthetic Aperture Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator (SAR/GMTI)
  • Inverse SAR (ISAR)

The whole composite airframe is composed of a monoblock fuselage, detachable wing and V-Tail, retractable landing gear, redundant control surfaces, avionics and payload bays and service doors. The sandwich skin structure is reinforced by composite or metallic frames, ribs and supports. Propelled by a pusher type heavy fuel engine, the aircraft is furnished with fuselage fuel tanks and fuel system, ice protection system, environmental control system, lighting system, redundant electrical system with battery backup and harness system.

The platform is also equipped with a digital flight control system, electro-mechanical actuators, and flight control sensor systems such as GPS, pitot-static, air data computer, navigation sensor, transducers, temperature, pressure, displacement sensors, etc.[7] Various tasks are distributed along flight management computers and auxiliary control boxes. Identification and communication units and interface computers are employed in order to establish real time wide band communication and provide test and diagnostics functions. An air traffic radio is also integrated in the communication system for the integration of the aircraft into the civilian airspace. All flight critical equipment are dual or triple redundant and emergency modes of operational scenarios are taken into consideration for fail safe design.

All airborne and ground based flight control software is developed by TAI while payload hardware and software items are aimed to be developed by national sub-contractors, such as Aselsan and Milsoft.

TIHA operations are supported by highly sophisticated ground control system with complete redundancy, developed by a domestic defence company Savronik.[8] Whole mission segments of the air vehicle can be managed, monitored and controlled by a GCS. A pre-programmed mission plan can be loaded before the flight begins or can be altered during the flight. All the imagery stream of the payloads can be displayed and recorded in real time and all the payloads can be controlled from the GCS. ATOLS allows the air vehicle to perform its operation without operator intervention, including the most critical phases which are landing and take-off.

In TIES, valuable intelligence information can be obtained by the analysis of bulky imagery data. TIES operators can initiate intelligence missions prior to or during flight. Refined information flows to the upper command layer in order to assist the headquarters to monitor a network of TIHA systems and benefit from the gathered intelligence information. Another interface of the TIHA system is the RVT, with which other friendly units who are close to the target area can utilize the real time imagery that TIHA air vehicle broadcasts.

Development

The contract regarding the development of an indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system for the reconnaissance requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces became effective on 24 December 2004. Within the framework of the program, a total of three prototypes and ground systems will be designed, developed, manufactured and tested by mid 2011 as part of the prototype development phase. Subsequently in 2012, the serial production phase of Anka-A will be launched and additional 10 systems (meaning 30 air vehicles) will be built for the Turkish Air Force. ref name=zam1/>

  • On 30 December 2010, the first TAI Anka unmanned aerial vehicle completed its debut flight, with 14 minutes of cruising, at 15:45 local time.[9] Defence Minister Vecdi Gönül confirmed the flight.[10]
  • On 5 May 2011, TAI released the test flight video of Anka.[11] Anka-A flew a test and calibration mission of 2h 30m.
  • Turkish Aerospace Industries announced on the 25th of October 2011 that the ANKA had successfully completed its subsequent flight and landing tests and that it will now be in the Turkish Air Force inventory in 2012 that is much earlier than expected. Footage released by TAI also shows the ANKA landing successfully putting all speculation abouts its crash landings to rest.[3]
  • On November 22, 2011, the Anka held the follow-up test flight for 6 hours at 20,000 ft. The vehicle demonstrated its automatic take-off and landing system for the first time.[12][13]
  • On January 5, 2012, Defence Industry Executive Committee authorized Undersecretariat for Defence Industries to commence talks with Turkish Aerospace Industries for the serial production of 10 Anka vehicles.[14]
  • On September 27, 2012, an Anka prototype crashed during a flight test due to a technical problem.[15]

Development of Anka +A

On the 19th of July 2012, the Turkish Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) announced that Turkish Aerospace Industries had commenced research and development for the design and development of a "hunter killer", High Altitude Long Endurance version of the ANKA UAV named the Anka +A. It is planned that Anka +A will carry Cirit missiles of Turkey's Roketsan. Anka +A UCAV will have stronger turbo engines and the weight of Anka +A UCAV will weight 3 tons compared that of Anka UAV's 1.5 tons.[16][17][18][19]

Variants

Future variants of UAV Anka will have larger payload capacity extending its current capabilities under the following features:

Specifications (Anka-A)

General characteristics

  • Crew: none

Performance

  • Endurance: 24 hours with 200 kg useful payload[2]

Avionics

  • ASELFLIR-300T, SAR/GMTI, ISAR payload
  • INS/GPS and air data sensor suite system[7]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

  1. ^ "First Turkish unmanned plane likely to be ready this summer". Hurriyet Daily News. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Head of SSM Murad Bayar explains the road map" (in Turkish). Zaman. 17 July 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  3. ^ a b Domestic unmanned aerial vehicle to spot PKK in Turkey, World Bulletin, 25 October 2011
  4. ^ http://www.israeldefense.com/?CategoryID=472&ArticleID=1143
  5. ^ "TAI Unveils ANKA Unmanned Airplane". trDefence. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Turkish Indigenous MALE UAV (Anka)". TAI. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  7. ^ a b "Rockwell Collins selected to provide guidance and navigation system for Turkish Aerospace Industries' Anka Unmanned Aerial Vehicle". Rockwell Collins. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  8. ^ Unmanned Air Vehicle Ground Control Station Shelter, Savronik. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  9. ^ Eksi, Ozgur. "Hürriyet: Ve ANKA uçtu" (in Turkish). Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  10. ^ "First flight of Anka took place last week, on Thursday", stated Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul, Zaman, Retrieved 4 January 2011
  11. ^ TAI Anka Test Flight. Anatolian News Agency. See the bottom of the cited webpage
  12. ^ Template:Tr Anka 6 saat havada kaldı (Dogan News Agency) and flight video. 24 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2011
  13. ^ Template:Tr 20 bin fitte 6 saat kaldi. Anatolian News Agency, 24 November 2011. Retrieved 25 November 2011
  14. ^ Template:Tr SSM press release. Undersecretariat for Defence Industries, 5 January 2012. Retrieved 5 January 2012
  15. ^ ANKA UAV Prototype Crashes During Test Flight - Suasnews.com, October 3, 2012
  16. ^ [1]
  17. ^ http://english.sabah.com.tr/National/2012/07/18/turkey-to-arm-anka-drone
  18. ^ http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/newsDetail_getNewsById.action?newsId=286926
  19. ^ Zaman Anka UAVs are getting armed
  20. ^ a b c d Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System Anka, Official Brochure. TAI. May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
  21. ^ "Farnborough 2010: TAI details MALE UAV offering". www.shephard.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2010.

External links

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