The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) is set to enhance its surveillance capabilities in the South China Sea with the acquisition of three Anka-S unmanned aerial vehicles from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI). This development was highlighted at the Defence Services Asia 2024 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, where an RMAF spokesperson provided updates on the progress of the program.
The spokesperson confirmed that the production of the Anka-S UAVs, specifically designed to meet Malaysian needs, has started at the Turkish Aerospace facilities. To ensure the program remains on track, six RMAF personnel have been stationed in Turkey to directly oversee the production and development processes. Indeed, according to the Military Balance 2023, the Malaysian government established an air force squadron in 2021 to operate the new UAVs.
While details on the training of RMAF personnel for the Anka-S were not disclosed, the spokesperson assured that all preparations were progressing according to the pre-established schedule. The focus is on equipping the UAVs with specialized systems tailored to Malaysia’s strategic needs, particularly in the area of maritime surveillance.
Additionally, the RMAF spokesperson indicated that although there are no immediate plans to acquire additional Anka-S units beyond the initial three, the Air Force is closely monitoring the progress in the development of TAI’s Anka-3, a more advanced unmanned combat air vehicle.