Türkiye’s Air Force is expected to place an initial order for more than 50 ANKA III stealth UCAVs in 2026, marking the programme’s transition from development to large-scale production, according to senior Turkish aerospace leadership. Turkish Aerospace Industries CEO Dr. Mehmet Demiroğlu has indicated that the ANKA III has completed its critical design review, its configuration has been frozen, and production activities are already underway, positioning the platform for long-term operational integration rather than experimental use.
Recent flight tests and programme milestones underline this shift. By late 2025, ANKA III had completed 46 system verification sorties validating key autonomous flight functions, laying the groundwork for advanced networked and cooperative operations. With design maturity achieved, focus is now moving toward sustainment, training infrastructure, mission readiness and software maturity as Türkiye prepares for industrial ramp-up and eventual force-level deployment.
