ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey's procurement agency has launched a competition promoting domestic development of key sub-systems used in drones.

The Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) said some of the systems it wants to develop domestically include turboprop engines, spare cruise systems, perceive-and-avoid systems, wide band satellite communication systems, automatic takeoff and landing systems, high-resolution cameras, surveillance systems, electronic support pods, electronic ground support systems and search-and-rescue systems.

Companies interested in developing those systems should apply to SSM no later than May 2, the office said.

Initially, the systems would be mounted on the Anka, a medium-altitude, long-endurance drone developed by Tusas Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI) that made its debut flight in February.

The drone reached an altitude of 19,000 feet and successfully carried out a four-hour exploration and observation flight.

TAI started its work on the Anka in 2004. In 2013, the company won a contract from the Turkish government to supply 10 Ankas and their ground control stations.

In 2014, military and defense officials moved ahead with a plan to add satcom capabilities to the Anka, while also bringing together a task force that would design and develop an indigenous engine for the drone. That drone, the Anka S will be delivered by 2017.

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The Anka is TAI's first indigenous design in aerospace.