Video: 489-mph stealth drone spotted flying with jet-powered combat UAVs under its wings

Türkiye’s ANKA III stealth combat drone is moving closer to carrying autonomous aircraft. Recently, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) released flight imagery showing the flying-wing UCAV with two jet-powered SÜPER ŞİMŞEK UAVs under its wings. TUSAŞ posted the video with the message “Gizli Güç!”, which means “Secret Power.” This flight shows an airborne launch concept that could let ANKA III do more than carry regular weapons. The larger drone could transport smaller autonomous systems into dangerous areas and release them for missions like surveillance, electronic warfare, deception, or strikes. ANKA III takes on a new role The latest flight builds on earlier ANKA III development. Turkish Aerospace had already shown the drone carrying two SÜPER ŞİMŞEK vehicles at SAHA Expo 2026. On April 8, 2025, ANKA III also released a SÜPER ŞİMŞEK in flight at about 10,130 feet and 150 knots. The August 14 demonstration that the two-aircraft carriage arrangement has progressed into airborne testing. ANKA III can bring the smaller UAVs forward and release them at a chosen point, giving them altitude and speed before they start their own missions. TUSAŞ describes ANKA III is a turbofan-powered UCAV that can fly up to 40,000 feet, reach a top speed of Mach 0.7 (489 mph) at 30,000 feet, and stay in the air for up to 10 hours. It can support ISR, electronic warfare, communications relay, and work with both manned and unmanned teams. — Turkish Aerospace (@TUSAS_EN) August 14, 2026 SÜPER ŞİMŞEK adds more options SÜPER ŞİMŞEK gives ANKA III the ability to carry an expendable autonomous unit that can be set up for different battlefield jobs. This 13-foot UAV can take off weighing up to 441 pounds, carry a 110-pound payload, fly as high as 35,000 feet, and reach speeds up to Mach 0.85 (647 mph). Its equipment can boost radar and infrared signatures, provide electronic support, jam signals, use countermeasures, and carry out attack missions. It can also fly autonomously and receive mission updates while in the air. This flexibility could help the smaller UAV work against advanced air-defense systems. Different UAVs could handle deception, electronic warfare, or attack missions, making defenders deal with several types of threats in the air. A layered combat network This setup also aligns with Türkiye’s broader move toward collaborative combat aircraft. At the World Defense Show 2026, Turkish Aerospace showed a concept in which a crewed KAAN fighter works with ANKA III UCAVs. Adding SÜPER ŞİMŞEK brings in another layer. KAAN could one day offer human-led mission control, ANKA III could act as a stealthy sensor and coordinator, and the smaller UAVs could fly even farther ahead. The full three-level system has not been shown in public yet, so it is still a new idea. However, the separate technologies are moving forward. In March 2026, Türkiye said that several SÜPER ŞİMŞEK vehicles had joined the Turkish Air Force. What it means for future airpower The ANKA III flight suggests a combat model where one aircraft can launch extra autonomous systems after takeoff. This could add more sensors, electronic-warfare tools, and strike options during a mission, without needing every aircraft to do the same job. This approach could one day help with SEAD and DEAD missions, ISR, electromagnetic operations, and distributed combat. For NATO, these systems could give more options for operating in contested airspace if future versions have secure communications and work with allied networks.The new video therefore represents more than a new payload configuration. It shows Türkiye developing aircraft that can carry, deploy, and coordinate other autonomous platforms, pushing ANKA III toward a broader role as a networked combat node.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.