The deliveries are expected to begin soon, according to a report by SavunmaSanayiST, a Turkish portal specializing in defense industry and military aviation news.
Türkiye’s defense industry, including its military UAVs, has been increasing its presence in the global market. The ANKA drones mentioned in the agreement are already in service with the armed forces of several countries, including Algeria, Kazakhstan, Tunisia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Chad, in addition to the Turkish military.
The two-engine AKSUNGUR drone has the ability to stay airborne for over 50 hours and can carry a payload of up to 750 kilograms.
The single-engine ANKA SIHA drone can remain in the air for up to 30 hours and has a payload capacity of 350 kilograms. Both drones are powered by turbojet aviation engines.
According to publicly available information, the export price of the ANKA drone exceeds $25 million. For instance, in 2020, the Tunisian Ministry of Defense purchased three such drones for $80 million. In 2023, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense signed a deal to buy 12 ANKA drones for $300 million. These agreements also include training for military personnel on drone operations, munitions for the drones, and control stations.
It is important to note that in November 2023, Uzbekistan’s Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, visited a military unit in Surkhandarya region, where the Turkish BAYRAKTAR TB2 reconnaissance-strike drone was demonstrated.
On June 6, 2024, President Mirziyoyev visited Ankara, where he was introduced to Türkiye's newest Kaan fighter jet at the Turkish aerospace company.
Moreover, on June 26, 2024, during a meeting with a delegation led by Türkiye’s National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler in Tashkent, they discussed the prospects for furthering military-technical cooperation.
Additionally, in December 2024, Uzbekistan's Minister of Defense, General Major Shukhrat Kholmukhamedov, informed the Senate of the Supreme Assembly that the army's training focus was on utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles in modern warfare, improving skills in countering these drones, and mastering new tactical operations.
