Turkey Unveils MMU Fifth-gen Fighter and Anka-3 Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle

Turkey Unveils Stealth Fighter and Combat UAV

Despite the setbacks imposed by the tragic earthquakes that hit Turkey in February, TAI lifted the veil on the country’s fifth-generation fighter program.

Turkish Aerospace Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU) fifth-generation fighter surrounded by ground crew during taxi testing — Certain elements of the MMU—notably the nose and forward fuselage—are reminiscent of the F-22 Raptor. (Photo: TAI)

By Jon Lake

March 20, 2023

Turkey’s Victory Day (March 18), which commemorates the battle of Çanakkale (Gallipoli), coincided this year with the 100th anniversary of the founding of modern Turkey by Kemal Atatürk. Given the date's significance, Turkish Aerospace (TAI) chose it to unveil its Milli Muharip Uçak (MMU, National Combat Aircraft) fifth-generation fighter, formerly known as the TF-X. The aircraft taxied under its own power on March 16 before a low-key rollout ceremony two days later.

The MMU prototype closely resembles the mock-up that has been seen at international air shows, albeit with a more “humped” profile, giving a better all-around view for the pilot but making TAI’s supercruise ambitions more challenging. The aircraft bears some resemblance to the F-22/F-35 and is intended to incorporate low-observable (LO) design features, including the use of internal weapons bays, leading-edge alignment, and presumably radar-absorbent materials and structures. TAI claims the aircraft has AESA radar with “more than twice as many [transmit and receive modules]” as the F-22’s AN/APG-77, and has infrared search and track and electro-optic arrays above and below the nose in LO installations.

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