Turkey's ANKA-3 Drone Gets Second Line, 1.75-Ton Payload

A second line for Turkey's flying-wing stealth drone

Turkish Aerospace has completed construction of a second production line for the ANKA-3, scheduled to open in November at its Ankara facility.

The first aircraft built on the new line is expected to roll out “soon” and then undergo flight testing, according to a company official who spoke to Breaking Defense during a media tour. That official also confirmed the upgraded ANKA-3 will carry a payload of 1.75 tons, up from about 1.3 tons on the original platform, thanks to a larger airframe.

The ANKA-3 is a combat drone designed for strike missions, capable of high-subsonic speeds and operating at altitudes up to 40,000 feet. Its flying-wing design, which lacks a traditional tail, is intended to reduce radar visibility compared to conventional drones. The first prototype of the original ANKA-3 is currently in flight testing.

What the payload boost means for the ANKA-3

Adding 450 kilograms of payload capacity is not a minor tweak. It moves the ANKA-3 closer to the class of medium-altitude, long-endurance strike drones that can carry heavier munitions or more of them on a single sortie. Turkish Aerospace says the upgrade responds to new national requirements, though it has not detailed which weapons the larger airframe will accommodate.

For comparison, the original ANKA-3 was already positioned as a low-observable strike platform. The larger variant suggests Turkey wants a drone that can take on more demanding missions without sacrificing range or endurance. That matters for a country that has invested heavily in domestic defense production and increasingly exports its systems. The payload boost also puts the ANKA-3 in a different weight class than many tactical drones, though it remains smaller than full-size manned strike aircraft.

The production-rate claim that didn't hold up

Initial reports, including from Breaking Defense, said the second line would allow Turkish Aerospace to produce one ANKA-3 every five months. That figure was later retracted by Breaking Defense, and Turkish defense outlet SavunmaSanayiST stated that the information is not correct according to its sources.

The retraction leaves the actual production rate unclear. What is confirmed: the second line opens in November, the upgraded variant has a 1.75-ton payload, and Turkey's armed forces have ordered 80 units with first delivery expected in 2027. The production cadence will become clearer once the line is operational and the first aircraft completes flight testing. For now, treat any specific output numbers with caution.

What it means for you

The ANKA-3 is a Turkish military program, so there is no consumer availability or pricing to report for the US, UK or EU. The drone is not for export sale at this stage, and Turkish Aerospace has not announced any international customers.

For defense watchers outside Turkey, the story is about capability: a NATO member is scaling up production of a stealthy strike drone with a larger payload, which could influence regional balances and future export discussions. But with first delivery not expected until 2027, any wider impact is still years away.

The ANKA-3's second production line and payload boost show Turkey's ambition to field a more capable stealth strike drone. But with a retracted production rate and first delivery still years away, the real test will be whether Turkish Aerospace can turn these plans into flying aircraft on schedule.