Video of Turkish Anka test flight released.

The TAI 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.

TAI plans to equip the aircraft by August 2011 with Aselsan’s AselFLIR 300T electro optics complex for infrared surveillance and mobile target designation capability and a miniature SAR radar developed by the same company. These two instruments will constitute the main standard payload of the aircraft.

Anka is capable of flying at an altitude of 10 kilometers with an endurance of 24 hours, giving the aircraft a superior loiter time beyond the reach of most short to medium altitude defence guns and missiles.

Deliveries to Turkish Armed Forces will start in the first quarter of 2012.

TAI plans to also capitalize on export prospects to certain Caspian and Middle Eastern countries.