Turkish Aerospace Industries has tested its ANKA III stealth combat drone by launching a Super Şimşek jet-powered decoy, designed to mimic fighter jets and deceive enemy radar, marking progress in Turkey’s effort to pair unmanned systems with piloted aircraft during combat missions, the company said in a statement on X on Tuesday.
The test occurred at an altitude of 3,060 meters (10,130 feet) and a speed of 150 knots as part of Turkey’s development of the “loyal wingman” concept, a globally emerging approach designed to protect manned aircraft during high-risk operations.
The test demonstrated integration between ANKA III and Super Şimşek as part of Turkey’s Autonomous Wingman Concept, which aims to strengthen manned-unmanned teaming operations.
ANKA III, a low-observable flying-wing unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) unveiled in 2023, completed its maiden flight in December of that year. It can reach speeds up to Mach 0.7, operate at altitudes up to 40,000 feet and carry payloads of 1,200 kilograms with endurance of up to 10 hours.
The aircraft is designed for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions with stealth characteristics and multiple weapon stations.
Its stealth features include a tailless flying-wing design and radar-reducing geometry that minimize radar signature, allowing it to operate in contested airspace with reduced detection risk.
Super Şimşek, originally developed as a target drone, weighs 200 kilograms and can reach speeds of Mach 0.9 with an operational range of up to 700 kilometers.
Its payload options include radar and infrared signature enhancers that can mimic larger aircraft on enemy detection systems, explosive warheads, jamming systems and various sensors.
Super Şimşek can mimic various aircraft on enemy radar, creating opportunities for coordinated drone attacks on air defense systems.
Haluk Görgün, secretary of Turkey’s Defense Industry Agency (SSB) called the test an achievement that “clearly demonstrates the advanced stage of our strike UCAV concept.”
“High-altitude and high-speed systems like these showcase the engineering level our defense industry has achieved in unmanned systems,” Görgün said on X.
USAŞ General Manager Mehmet Demiroğlu said at the IDEX 2025 defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi that the Super Şimşek drone can deceive enemy radar systems by mimicking aircraft including F-16s, F-35s or KAAN fighter jets. KAAN is Turkey’s first domestically developed stealth fighter jet, which made its maiden flight in 2023 as part of the country’s efforts to strengthen its indigenous defense capabilities.
Demiroğlu said this capability enables the drone to trigger enemy air defense systems, making them vulnerable to coordinated attacks by other drones. The strategy aims to neutralize air defenses and create safe corridors for additional aircraft.
The test conducted by ANKA III with Super Şimşek represents a step in Turkey’s development of advanced aerial combat systems combining stealth technology with multi-layered mission capabilities.