Türkiye has marked another milestone in global aviation history with a groundbreaking achievement in unmanned combat aircraft technologies. The Bayraktar KIZILELMA Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV), developed by Baykar, has successfully completed a test flight demonstrating smart fleet autonomy, achieving the world’s first fully autonomous close formation flight by two unmanned combat aircraft.

The historic test was conducted in Çorlu, where the PT3 and PT5 prototypes of KIZILELMA took to the skies under the control of advanced smart fleet algorithms and an autonomous combat pilot system. Throughout the flight, the two UCAVs autonomously managed critical parameters such as positioning, speed, altitude, and maneuver synchronization, maintaining a precise close formation without any human intervention.

This achievement represents the first time in aviation history that two unmanned combat aircraft have executed a close formation flight entirely autonomously. Experts emphasize that this capability is a cornerstone for future air combat doctrines, enabling coordinated missions, swarm operations, and seamless cooperation between manned and unmanned platforms in complex operational environments.

Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar has previously highlighted that KIZILELMA is designed not only as an unmanned combat aircraft but also as a key element of next-generation air warfare architecture. The successful autonomous formation flight test further demonstrates the maturity of KIZILELMA’s artificial intelligence–driven systems and its readiness for advanced operational roles.

With this world-first accomplishment, Türkiye has once again underscored its leadership in unmanned aviation technologies, positioning Bayraktar KIZILELMA as a unique and pioneering platform on the global stage.