Two Turkish Kizilelma Unmanned Fighter Jets Perform World’s First Autonomous Formation Flight.

Turkey’s defense company Baykar announced on December 28, 2025, that two Kizilelma unmanned fighter aircraft successfully conducted the world’s first fully autonomous close formation flight between combat-capable jets. The milestone signals a major shift toward AI-driven air combat and strengthens Turkey’s position as a leading developer of next-generation unmanned aviation.

According to information released by the Turkish Company Baykar on December 28, 2025, two Kizilelma unmanned fighter jets have completed what the company described as the world’s first autonomous close formation flight between armed, jet-powered unmanned aircraft. The flight was executed without any human input, relying entirely on onboard artificial intelligence, sensors, and real-time data sharing, marking a breakthrough moment in the development of autonomous combat aviation. Defense analysts note that the achievement places Turkey among a small group of nations pushing beyond remotely piloted drones toward fully independent air combat systems.
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Two Baykar Kizilelma unmanned fighter jets captured mid-flight during the world’s first fully autonomous close formation maneuver, marking a historic milestone in global aviation on December 28, 2025. (Picture source: Baykar)

The milestone was accomplished during a test flight campaign in Turkish airspace, where two Kizilelma UCAVs (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles) maintained precise spatial alignment while flying at high subsonic speed. Autonomous formation flying has long been considered one of the most complex challenges in unmanned aviation, requiring precision, synchronization, and risk mitigation, especially with high-performance fighter-type drones. Until now, no country has publicly demonstrated this level of coordination between unmanned fighter-class aircraft under fully autonomous control.

Baykar’s Kizilelma platform, first unveiled in 2022, represents a new generation of jet-powered unmanned systems engineered for high-speed, high-agility operations. Unlike traditional drones designed primarily for ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance) or light-strike roles, the Kizilelma is purpose-built for contested-airspace missions, air-to-air engagements, and support to manned fighter aircraft. It integrates stealth shaping, internal weapons bays, AI-driven flight control, and beyond-line-of-sight communications, offering capabilities previously reserved for fifth-generation manned aircraft.

Powered by a single turbofan engine, the Kizilelma features a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 6,000 kilograms and is designed for both land-based and carrier-based operations. Its key differentiator is its ability to operate from short take-off and landing (STOL) vessels such as the Turkish Navy's TCG Anadolu, eliminating the need for catapult systems. This makes it the first known jet-powered stealth UCAV with naval integration capabilities, a feature that expands its strategic utility in the Mediterranean and beyond.

The autonomous close-formation flight demonstrated on December 28 not only demonstrates the platform’s advanced flight control algorithms but also lays the groundwork for future multi-aircraft operations involving coordinated swarming, mutual support, and tactical data sharing. The real-time, AI-controlled proximity flight suggests that Kizilelma’s onboard autonomy suite is capable of dynamic pathfinding, collision avoidance, and cooperative behavior - essential elements for future network-centric warfare and manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T).

While U.S. programs such as the Air Force’s Skyborg and the Navy’s CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) initiative are still progressing through developmental phases, and China's Loyal Wingman-type programs remain largely classified, Baykar has now publicly demonstrated an operational capability unmatched in Western or Eastern defense portfolios. No other defense manufacturer has confirmed or released footage of two fully autonomous, combat-capable unmanned fighter aircraft flying in close formation with no pilot control - a benchmark that signals significant maturation of Turkey’s indigenous AI and autonomous flight systems.

The strategic implications of this achievement are far-reaching. It opens the door to scalable, AI-driven air combat architectures where formations of unmanned fighters can operate with minimal human oversight, execute synchronized attacks, or serve as force multipliers alongside manned aircraft. As advanced air defense systems become more lethal and contested airspace becomes more complex, autonomy at this level provides a pathway to increased survivability, operational flexibility, and reduced pilot risk.

Kizilelma’s development trajectory reflects a deliberate shift in Turkish defense posture toward self-reliance and disruptive innovation. Backed by national defense policy priorities and state-supported R&D infrastructure, Baykar’s advances in unmanned systems are positioning Turkey as a net exporter of high-end drone technology, with the Kizilelma likely to become a flagship offering for future export deals to partner nations seeking affordable next-gen air combat solutions.

As of late 2025, the Kizilelma program is entering its advanced flight test phase, with serial production anticipated to begin in 2026. The aircraft is expected to be operationally deployed with the Turkish Navy and Air Force within the next 12 to 18 months, and additional autonomous flight demonstrations are planned for 2026, including beyond-visual-range (BVR) combat simulations and joint manned-unmanned flight operations.

This breakthrough moment signals that the age of autonomous air combat is no longer theoretical. It is being shaped in real-time by nations investing in the fusion of AI, aerospace engineering, and real-world flight integration - and with this test, Turkey has taken the lead.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.