Türkiye’s first unmanned fighter aircraft, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, has added another milestone to its rapidly progressing test campaign. Developed indigenously by Baykar, the platform conducted two live-fire sorties at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, where it achieved direct hits in both attempts. During the first sortie, the PT-3 prototype launched the ASELSAN-developed TOLUN munition with pinpoint accuracy, followed by a second sortie in which it fired the ROKETSAN-produced TEBER-82 Wing-Assisted Guidance Kit, successfully neutralizing the designated target.

The PT-3 prototype used in the tests incorporates substantial structural and avionics upgrades derived from earlier prototypes. The integration of an afterburning engine variant has significantly boosted its performance, bringing the aircraft closer to supersonic speeds. Aerodynamic refinements have enhanced high-speed maneuverability, while the onboard AESA radar provides superior situational awareness, enabling KIZILELMA to operate effectively in complex combat environments.

Launched in 2021, the KIZILELMA program has progressed at an exceptional pace. The first prototype, bearing the tail number TC-ÖZB, rolled out on November 14, 2022, and achieved its maiden flight just one month later. Serial production is now underway, with the aircraft expected to enter the Turkish Armed Forces inventory in 2026.

KIZILELMA has already drawn global attention through several groundbreaking flight demonstrations. During TEKNOFEST 2023, it conducted the first-ever formation flight between an unmanned fighter and a high-altitude UAV (KIZILELMA–AKINCI). It also flew in formation with SOLOTÜRK F-16s and the Turkish Stars’ F-5 jets over Istanbul, showcasing the future concept of manned–unmanned teaming in air combat.

Baykar continues to fund all its projects with its own resources while leading Türkiye’s defense exports. The company achieved 1.8 billion USD in exports in both 2023 and 2024, placing it among Türkiye’s top 10 exporters across all industries. With export agreements signed with 35 countries for the Bayraktar TB2 and 15 countries for the Bayraktar AKINCI, Baykar remains the world’s leading UAV exporter and a cornerstone of Türkiye’s aerospace sector.