Turkey Military News, Reports, Data, etc.

IQBAL in the Skies | IQBAL Göklerde

On Friday, 14 March 2025, Turkish Aerospace Pakistan successfully conducted a 6-minute-long autonomous maiden flight of its indigenously developed technology demonstrator “IQBAL”, named after the national poet of Pakistan Dr. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, who held the Turkish nation in high regard, and acknowledged the passion for liberty that he perceived to be a defining characteristic of the Turkish people.

#IQBAL is a 1:7 dynamically scaled version of #KAAN, designed and developed entirely by a small team of extremely capable young engineers of Turkish Aerospace Pakistan. IQBAL serves as a test bed for various advanced aerospace technologies and it will play a key role in the technological evolution of KAAN, the 5th generation fighter jet developed by Turkish Aerospace.

This achievement is dedicated to the years of unity and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Türkiye , which is epitomized by Turkish Aerospace Pakistan. We celebrate this accomplishment with pride today and aim to achieve even greater successes in the future.




Thanks to @JamD

sequ said:

Finally footage of the Kaan scale model:

View attachment 147955

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1900932689257009505

Click to expand...

Interesting, but I‘m a bit surprised! It does not look overall very detailed (in fact a bit rather crude) and even more, does it represent the old configuration of T0 or the revised shape of T1?

Deino said:

Interesting, but I‘m a bit surprised! It does not look overall very detailed (in fact a bit rather crude) and even more, does it represent the old configuration of T0 or the revised shape of T1?

Click to expand...

Apart from the bycicle-wheel-landing-gear (LMAO) it doesn't look crude at all. It just bad resolution and bad filming.

IMO it represents P0 but this scale model is was supposed to be ready in 2023 according to DefenceTurkeyMagazine, so they are quite late with it.

sequ said:

I can't imagine them not developing a larger stealth flying wing that can actually carry MK84 and/or SOM internally.

Click to expand...

It doesn't need to carry the bulkier SOM internally, since both the Anka-III and Kizilelma can carry two SOM-Js (revised name: SOM-M) internally, which is more than enough. After all, even the Kaan won't be able to carry the original SOM internally, and there isn't much of a capability difference to justify the cost.

(official ad from Roketsan)

Anka-III can carry Mk-82/83 class bomb kits, 2xSOM-J/M or 8x SDB-II equivalent Tolun internally. (Up to 650kg per each internal bay and (externally) 1000kg under each inner central pylon - 1200kg total weapon payload - 7 weapon stations)



I've also got a GIF of the Tolun release that is too large to upload here, so I'm sharing its link instead:

Fun fact for those who don't know: This missile was originally developed as part of Turkey's contribution to the JSF Programme - you know the rest:

siegecrossbow said:

My understanding that the flying wing type UCAVs are going to be the first wave of precision attack aircraft anyway. Weapon load is probably not as important as range, endurance, and reduced radar cross section.

Click to expand...

It has a relatively long duration of 10 hours at 30,000 feet (probably at a cruise speed of 0.42 Mach/250 knots)...

CasualObserver said:

It doesn't need to carry the bulkier SOM internally, since both the Anka-III and Kizilelma can carry two SOM-Js (revised name: SOM-M) internally, which is more than enough. After all, even the Kaan won't be able to carry the original SOM internally, and there isn't much of a capability difference to justify the cost.

View attachment 148091(official ad from Roketsan)

Anka-III can carry Mk-82/83 class bomb kits, 2xSOM-J/M or 8x SDB-II equivalent Tolun internally. (Up to 650kg per each internal bay and (externally) 1000kg under each inner central pylon - 1200kg total weapon payload - 7 weapon stations)

View attachment 148088

I've also got a GIF of the Tolun release that is too large to upload here, so I'm sharing its link instead:

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Fun fact for those who don't know: This missile was originally developed as part of Turkey's contribution to the JSF Programme:

View attachment 148089View attachment 148090

It has a relatively long duration of 10 hours at 30,000 feet (probably at a cruise speed of 0.42 Mach/250 knots)...

View attachment 148092

Click to expand...

Welcome back!

sequ said:

I don't like the Anka-3 for its small size. It should be enlarged with twin engines or one larger F404-F1D2/RD-33I equivalent. That way it can carry larger munitions internally.

Click to expand...

Any additional time, money and effort should instead be spent on accelerating the development of the Karat EOTS and conformal arrays.

The project is currently progressing extremely slowly due to the necessity to wait for these components to mature.

Though there have been reports that TAI has requested/intends to request(?) a non-AB F110 ( the F118 used on the B-2/U-2?) for what's rumoured to be a tanker drone.



We know that feasibility studies have been conducted for a tanker drone based on the Anka-III design, and it might enter active development if deemed feasible once the Kaan's CDR is completed (which should have already happened by Q2-Q3 2024).

They are likely planning to replace the F118-equivalent with a non-AB version of the Kaan's indigenous engine once it is ready.

However, there are simply too many 'ifs.'

Deino said:

Interesting, but I‘m a bit surprised! It does not look overall very detailed (in fact a bit rather crude) and even more, does it represent the old configuration of T0 or the revised shape of T1?

Click to expand...

Probably something to keep the Pakistan office busy and show local officials as something to 'entice' them.

'Hey, look—Pakistan is part of the Kaan program as you requested! *wink wink* Now, order some f#@ing jets and don't touch anything as we do our job!'

It gives off the same vibes as that underwhelming mini flying-wing drone from DRDO.

Turkish company Roketsan has demonstrated the ALKA laser system designed to destroy drones. The ALKA air defense system uses lasers and electromagnetic waves to destroy drones. In the video, you can see the destruction of UAVs and FPVs using a laser and its use against a ground target. The power of the laser beam system is 20 kW. As previously reported, the laser is capable of shooting down drones at a distance of up to 750 meters, at a drone flight speed of no more than 150 km/h. The system creates interference at a distance of up to 4 kilometers. Technical data may change. The air defense system can detect up to 100 targets. The ALKA laser weapon system was first shown in 2019, it is planned to be used in the Steel Dome project of the Turkish air defense system.

Akinici fitted with peculiar antennas dropping 3 Teber-82




Antennas look like those on the ELINT variant of Akinci being developed: