The Turkish defence and aviation industry continues to showcase the unmanned combat concepts of the future. The Istanbul Expo Centre, bringing together technology giants at the SAHA EXPO 2026 fair, is hosting a historic display that will completely change air warfare doctrines. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is exhibiting Türkiye's first flying-wing stealth unmanned combat aircraft, ANKA-3, together with two Süper Şimşek systems under its wings. This tactical integration, where ANKA-3 acts as the stealth mothership and Süper Şimşek serves as the decoy or direct destroyer, takes Türkiye's deep strike capability to an entirely new dimension. This high-tech duo creates an absolute asymmetric power that will collapse enemy air defence networks with a "mothership and smart munition" strategy.
The Phantom in the Sky: ANKA-3
To survive on the modern battlefield, platforms need a low radar cross-section (RCS). TAI engineers designed the ANKA-3 Combat Unmanned Aircraft System (MIUS) precisely according to this need. The aircraft masterfully hides from enemy radars thanks to its tailless, flying-wing aerodynamics. According to data shared by TAI, the platform reaches a maximum take-off weight of approximately 6,500 kilograms and carries a significant payload of 1,200 kilograms.
Looking at the performance data, with its turbofan engine (TEI TF-6000), ANKA-3 operates at a service ceiling of 40,000 feet and reaches a maximum speed of 425 knots (approximately Mach 0.7). The platform maximises its stealth by carrying munitions in internal weapons bays. However, the platform can also carry heavy loads on external stations under its wings (just like the displayed Süper Şimşeks) after air superiority is established or in asymmetric operations. TAI produced this system to flawlessly execute Suppression and Destruction of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD/DEAD), intelligence, electronic warfare, and deep strike missions.
The Intelligence that Collapses Air Defences: Süper Şimşek
Süper Şimşek, exhibited under ANKA-3's wings, carries strategic intelligence far beyond being a mere cruise missile or target drone. Operating at high subsonic speeds (Mach 0.85), this modular unmanned aerial vehicle deceives enemy radars and applies electronic warfare tactics. Thanks to its active and passive radar cross-section augmentation systems, the vehicle appears as a massive fighter jet (the size of an F-16) on enemy radars.
Looking at its physical characteristics, Süper Şimşek reaches a length of 4 metres, a maximum take-off weight of 200 kilograms, and a service ceiling of 35,000 feet. With a massive operational range of 900 kilometres, this platform transforms into a smart kamikaze UAV that makes precision strikes with its 50-kilogram payload (35 kg warhead) according to mission needs. Thus, while enemy air defence systems are occupied with decoys or subjected to electronic jamming, ANKA-3, the main strike element, silently completes its strategic mission.
The Mothership and Swarm Concept
In past years, unmanned aerial vehicles focused on hitting targets only with conventional missiles on board. However, the ANKA-3 and Süper Şimşek integration introduced to the international public at SAHA EXPO 2026 demonstrates that the "Mothership" doctrine, worked on by only a few superpowers in the world, has been successfully implemented in Türkiye.
This new military doctrine envisions the expensive and strategic main platform (ANKA-3) patrolling in a safe zone without entering enemy air defence range. ANKA-3 releases the Süper Şimşeks under its wings at high altitude, directing them into the most dangerous zones (A2/AD). Connected by network-centric warfare logic, these platforms enable unmanned aerial vehicles to penetrate enemy lines in an organised manner, acting like a single intelligence.
Absolute Superiority in Global Competition
This integrated technology display at the SAHA EXPO 2026 fair clearly shows that the Turkish defence industry does not merely design external platforms. Türkiye is completely rewriting the future asymmetric warfare doctrines. When ANKA-3's stealth and Süper Şimşek's deception and speed come together, this dual system paralyzes the enemy's decision-making cycle.
