Bayraktar KIZILELMA, Turkey’s most ambitious unmanned air combat project to date, has captured public attention with newly released footage showing the aircraft lifting off from the runway for the first time. The video, shared by Baykar Chairman and CTO Selçuk Bayraktar on social media, displays the unmanned fighter jet taxiing, accelerating, and briefly taking to the air—a major development milestone that reflects the rapid progress of the project.

Accompanying the footage, Bayraktar wrote, “We could not keep it on the ground anymore. It flew! Thanks to our Lord,” highlighting both the excitement of the engineering team and the symbolic significance of the achievement. The clip quickly went viral, reinforcing KIZILELMA’s role as one of Turkey’s flagship defense initiatives.

Developed with Baykar’s nearly 20 years of deep-technology expertise, the KIZILELMA Unmanned Fighter Aircraft continues to undergo an intensive series of ground tests. These include runway trials, taxi procedures, and controlled lift maneuvers. The program aims for the aircraft’s official first flight in 2023, during which its aerodynamic stability, command-control systems, and flight safety mechanisms will be validated through comprehensive flight trials.

One of the defining features distinguishing KIZILELMA from other unmanned aircraft is its ability to take off and land on short-runway naval platforms. Designed specifically to operate from Türkiye’s TCG Anadolu, which is currently undergoing sea trials, KIZILELMA brings an entirely new operational capability to Turkey’s naval aviation strategy. This enables the aircraft to support long-range missions, provide air cover for naval groups, and engage in over-the-horizon operations.

KIZILELMA is also expected to play a key role in the protection of Türkiye’s “Blue Homeland.” With its advanced maneuverability, low radar visibility, and capacity to carry a wide array of smart munitions, the platform is set to revolutionize future combat doctrine by combining unmanned operations with fighter jet-level capabilities. As milestones are achieved one after another, KIZILELMA stands out as a symbol of Türkiye’s rapid ascent in next-generation aerial combat technologies.