Türkiye’s cutting-edge Bayraktar KIZILELMA Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) has achieved a major milestone by conducting its first armed flight test with ASELSAN’s TOLUN smart munition. The test was performed in a captive configuration, meaning the munition remained attached to the aircraft during flight, verifying structural compatibility, aerodynamics, and weapon system integration.

Footage from the test was shared by Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar and the company’s official social media accounts, drawing widespread attention in Türkiye’s defense community. The flight marks the first step toward full operational capability, confirming that the KIZILELMA platform can carry, manage, and integrate domestically produced precision munitions in-flight under realistic conditions.

Haluk Görgün, President of the Defense Industry Agency (SSB), celebrated the achievement by saying: “The union of KIZILELMA and TOLUN represents much more than a weapon integration — it is a strategic indicator of Türkiye’s advancing air-to-ground integration capability. The precision of TOLUN combined with KIZILELMA’s maneuverability will shape the combat doctrines of the future.” Görgün also congratulated the teams at Baykar and ASELSAN, along with the engineers and technicians who contributed to the milestone, emphasizing that “this is only the beginning.”

The successful captive flight test verifies critical compatibility between the UCAV and the munition — including aerodynamic stability, software interfaces, and data link performance. It paves the way for upcoming separation and live-fire tests, which will further demonstrate the system’s combat readiness. The integration of TOLUN, a precision-guided munition designed by ASELSAN, with KIZILELMA’s autonomous combat architecture represents a decisive step in Türkiye’s goal of achieving a fully indigenous air combat ecosystem.

By combining local sensor suites, mission algorithms, and smart munitions, KIZILELMA is set to redefine Türkiye’s airpower capabilities, enabling network-centric warfare, deep-strike missions, and precision engagement with unmatched flexibility. The synergy between Baykar and ASELSAN not only strengthens national defense autonomy but also positions Türkiye among the few nations developing advanced unmanned combat aircraft integrated with domestic weapon systems.