Envisioned in the early 2000s for aerial surveillance and reconnaissance missions, Anka has evolved into a modular platform with synthetic-aperture radar, precise weapons and satellite communication.

The basic version, Anka-A, was classified as a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle for reconnaissance missions.

In 2025, Uzbekistan is set to receive deliveries of TAI ANKA combat drones from Turkey within coming days, according to local reports published on January 30.

All flight critical equipment are dual or triple redundant and emergency modes of operational scenarios are taken into consideration for fail safe design.

[citation needed] UAV operations are supported by highly sophisticated ground control system with complete redundancy, developed by a domestic defence company Savronik.

[citation needed] In TIES, valuable intelligence information can be obtained by the analysis of bulky imagery data.

[citation needed] The contract regarding the development of an indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system for the reconnaissance requirements of the Turkish Armed Forces became effective on 24 December 2004.

[citation needed] Turkey's Directorate for Defence Industries had stressed advanced variants of the Anka with greater payload capacity, extending Block-A capabilities to the features like: According to the authority, Anka would eventually have an indigenous 155 hp turbo-prop engine developed by TUSAŞ Engine Industries (TEI), with cooperation of local companies in the future.

[citation needed] On 19 July 2012, the Turkish Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) announced that Turkish Aerospace Industries had commenced research and development for the design and development of a "hunter killer" High-Altitude Long-Endurance version of the Anka UAV, named the Anka +A.

The UAV carries an Aselsan synthetic aperture radar/ground moving-target indicator payload in addition to the platform's electro-optical/infrared sensor.

[40] In September, Ismail Demir, director of the Turkey's defence industry authority, shared a picture of the first Anka-S equipped with Aselsan CATS optical system.

[49][50] On 27 February 2020 following the Turkish losses inflicted by Russian-backed Syrian government in northwestern Syria, Turkey launched Operation Spring Shield, with multiple Anka-S and Bayraktar TB2 drones deployed and extensively.

[48][51][52] On 1 March 2020, an Anka-S was shot down while operating in the Syrian province of Idlib by an air defence system, near the town of Saraqib.

[56] On 23 May 2020, a second Anka drone backing the GNA forces is reported lost in Tarhouna, shot down by LNA air defenses.

[58][59] TUSAŞ announced on its official X page that the company has sold Anka UCAV to Uzbekistan in January 2025 without mentioning further details.