Turkey launched the first indigenously designed and developed large-scale drone, Anka (Phoenix), at the Farnborough Air Show in the UK.
Developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), Anka is a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone that can operate at 30,000ft and has 24-hour endurance.
It has a maximum payload capacity of 200kg and will fly at a speed of 75kt, according to hurriyetdailynews.com.
The Turkish Air Force is expected to acquire nearly 30 Anka drones for reconnaissance and target acquisition missions against terrorist group Kurdistan Workers Party or PKK.
The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will make its maiden flight in October 2010 and will begin full operation by late 2012.
Turkey has plans to manufacture four prototypes of the Anka drone, as part of the $92m programme that began in 2004.
