Kızılelma UAV – BAYKAR

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The Bayraktar KIZILELMA is a jet-powered unmanned combat aircraft developed by Turkish aerospace company Baykar. Unlike conventional unmanned aerial vehicles primarily designed for reconnaissance and surveillance, KIZILELMA is being developed for a broader range of combat missions, including air-to-air and air-to-ground operations.

The aircraft completed its maiden flight on December 14, 2022, at Çorlu, Türkiye. Since then, the program has progressed through prototype development, flight testing, and weapons integration trials. Its design incorporates low-observable features, an internal weapons bay, and advanced avionics, reflecting Baykar’s ambition to develop a new generation of unmanned combat aircraft.

Bayraktar KIZILELMA was developed by Baykar, a Turkish aerospace and defense company founded by Özdemir Bayraktar. The program is led by Selçuk Bayraktar, the company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Selçuk Bayraktar graduated from Istanbul Technical University in 2002 with a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering. He subsequently earned master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in 2004 and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2006. He has played a leading role in the development of Baykar’s unmanned aircraft programs, including the Bayraktar TB2, AKINCI, and KIZILELMA.

Kızılelma – BAYKAR Specifications

SpecificationEarly Prototype Data (2022)Current Baykar Data 2026
Length14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
Wingspan10 m (32 ft 10 in)10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Height3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)6,000 kg (13,228 lb)8,500 kg (18,739 lb)
Payload Capacity1,500 kg (3,307 lb)1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
Maximum Speed1,100 km/h (Mach 0.9)1,100 km/h (Mach 0.9)
Cruise Speed735 km/h (Mach 0.6)735 km/h (Mach 0.6)
Combat Range930 km (580 mi)Not officially specified
Endurance5–6 hours3+ hours
Operational Altitude35,000 ft25,000 ft
Service Ceiling45,000 ft45,000 ft
EngineAI-25TLT TurbofanAI-25TLT / Improved Variants
Takeoff & LandingShort-runway capableOptimized for short-runway and carrier-style operations (TCG Anadolu)

Note: Some of the specifications released during the early prototype phase were based on preliminary design targets. As the Kızılelma program progressed through flight testing and development, several performance figures were updated. The most notable changes include the increase in maximum takeoff weight from 6,000 kg to 8,500 kg and revisions to endurance and operational altitude figures.

Bayraktar KIZILELMA: Weapons and Combat Capabilities (2025 Update)

In 2025, Bayraktar KIZILELMA achieved significant milestones in weapons integration and combat capability testing, demonstrating progress in both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions.

Air-to-Ground Weapons: In October 2025, KIZILELMA successfully conducted live-fire tests using ASELSAN’s TOLUN precision-guided munition and Roketsan’s TEBER-82 guidance kit, demonstrating its precision-strike capabilities.
Air-to-Air Weapons: On November 29, 2025, KIZILELMA successfully engaged a jet-powered aerial target with a TÜBİTAK SAGE-developed GÖKDOĞAN beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile, supported by ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar. Baykar described this as a historic milestone in unmanned air combat.
Advanced Sensors: The integration of MURAD AESA radar and ASELSAN’s TOYGUN electro-optical targeting system further enhanced KIZILELMA’s target detection, tracking, and engagement capabilities.

These developments marked important steps toward operational capability, although successful flight and weapons tests do not necessarily indicate full combat readiness.

Bayraktar KIZILELMA

Bayraktar KIZILELMA: Export Agreements (2026 Update)

In May 2026, Baykar signed its first export agreement for the Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft with Indonesia during the SAHA 2026 defense exhibition in Istanbul.
According to the announced agreement, the initial delivery of 12 KIZILELMA aircraft is scheduled to begin in 2028, with provisions for potential future expansion. Although countries such as Pakistan have reportedly shown interest in the aircraft, no confirmed KIZILELMA export contracts with Pakistan, Ukraine, or Turkmenistan have been publicly established as of October 2026.

Recommended: Who is Selcuk Bayraktar ?

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