Featuring a sleek fuselage, a tailless design, and low radar visibility, the flying wing or delta wing concept holds a unique position in the world of aviation. Initially developed in Germany during World War II, it has since been explored by many countries.
Türkiye's involvement in flying wing aircraft dates back even further, with the production of the THK-13 glider in 1948 at the Turkish Aeronautical Association aircraft factory, marking one of the earliest examples of a flying wing in the world.
Mustafa Kılıç, an aviation history researcher, shared the following information on TRT Haber: "The Turkish Aeronautical Association faced challenges in selling the planes it produced, and it needed to undertake something original both to restore lost prestige and enhance production. However, the project had to be cost-effective. Unfortunately, after several minor accidents during test flights and subsequent repairs, the glider, piloted by Kemal Uygun, experienced a severe crash and broke apart. Subsequently, the project was regrettably canceled."
Noteworthy contributions in this field include America's development of the highly expensive Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber and the unmanned aerial vehicle model X-47B. Additionally, Russia's S-70 Okhotnik model successfully completed its maiden flight in 2019.
In the early 2000s, Türkiye participated in a similar project led by France; however, the workload was not allocated to Türkiye. In response to this setback, Ankara embarked on its own project that aimed to challenge the "best" in the field. The project was named ANKA-3, highlighting the key advantage of the delta wing design—radar invisibility.
Arif Emre Örün, a defense technologies specialist, provided the following assessment: "ANKA-3 is an aerodynamically flawless aircraft, utilizing every part of its structure for lift. It offers the least air friction, optimal fuel efficiency, and the ability to cover great distances with its advanced propulsion system. With its streamlined design, devoid of protrusions such as tails or wing extensions, it boasts exceptional radar invisibility. Consequently, these aircraft will excel in performing highly successful deep air-to-ground attack missions."
Developed by TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) using domestic and national resources, ANKA-3 will also possess a high load-carrying capacity thanks to its innovative design.
