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Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) announced Tuesday that its next-generation unmanned aerial vehicle, ANKA-3, made a controlled emergency landing during a test flight conducted as part of the International Anatolian Eagle 2025 Exercise.
In a written statement, the company said the emergency landing occurred at 7:16 p.m. local time during a scheduled exercise flight held within the framework of multinational air combat drills underway in Türkiye.
“There was no loss of life or property, and no one was injured,” TAI said. “Flight safety protocols were activated promptly. Our technical teams have initiated fieldwork and begun investigating all aspects and causes of the incident.”"
The Konya Governor’s Office also confirmed the incident in a separate statement, noting that the UAV landed in an uninhabited area.
“On June 25, 2025, during the International Anatolian Eagle 2025 Exercise, an ANKA-3 UAV made a controlled emergency landing in an empty field within the borders of Selcuklu district,” the statement read. “All necessary precautions have been taken by our relevant units, and the technical investigation is ongoing. Respectfully announced to the public.”
The ANKA-3, which completed its maiden flight on Dec. 28, 2023, is a tailless flying wing UAV designed for low radar visibility.
It is capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 0.7 (approximately 835 km/h), flying at altitudes up to 40,000 feet, and remaining airborne for up to 10 hours.
The aircraft has a maximum takeoff weight of 7 tons and can carry a payload of up to 1,200 kilograms. It supports both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
Equipped for reconnaissance, surveillance, electronic warfare, and intelligence collection, the ANKA-3 is intended to significantly enhance the Turkish Armed Forces' operational capabilities on the battlefield.
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