Flash News: Turkish Bayraktar KIZILELMA Jet-Powered Unmanned Combat Aircraft Completes Aerodynamics Flight Test.

According to information released by the Turkish company Baykar, the Turkish-made Bayraktar KIZILELMA, a carrier-capable, jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), currently in development by Baykar, successfully completed the Aerodynamics System Identification Test (ASIT) on March 6, 2025. This test, which took place at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, was a significant milestone in the development of the advanced unmanned aerial vehicle.
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Bayraktar KIZILELMA, Turkey’s first indigenous unmanned fighter jet developed by Baykar, successfully completed the Aerodynamics System Identification Test as part of its scheduled testing phase. (Picture source: Baykar)

According to information released by the Turkish company Baykar, the Turkish-made Bayraktar KIZILELMA, a carrier-capable, jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), currently in development by Baykar, successfully completed the Aerodynamics System Identification Test (ASIT) on March 6, 2025. This test, which took place at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, was a significant milestone in the development of the advanced unmanned aerial vehicle.

During the flight, the aircraft's production prototype, PT3 (tail number TC-OZB3), carried out a series of sophisticated aerodynamics tests aimed at measuring its stability, handling, and performance at different speeds and altitudes. The successful completion of this test provided valuable data that will allow Baykar’s engineers to fine-tune the aircraft’s design and systems for more demanding operational missions.

The Aerodynamics System Identification Test is a crucial phase in the development of aircraft, particularly for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and UCAVs. It involves collecting detailed information on the aircraft's aerodynamic behavior by measuring its response to various flight conditions. These tests are essential for understanding the vehicle’s stability and control characteristics, and they play a vital role in optimizing its performance, especially for high-speed and high-stress missions. The data obtained during the ASIT will be instrumental in refining the KIZILELMA's aerodynamics and ensuring that it meets the operational requirements for modern air combat.

The Bayraktar KIZILELMA project, launched by Baykar in 2021, is an ambitious initiative aimed at producing a highly capable, carrier-capable UCAV. Unlike traditional UAVs, the KIZILELMA is designed to be a highly maneuverable, stealthy, and powerful jet-powered drone that can operate from aircraft carriers and naval platforms. This cutting-edge UAV is expected to play a key role in both air and naval operations, offering Turkey a new level of versatility and combat capability. The development process of the KIZILELMA has progressed rapidly, and in less than a year after its roll-off the production line on November 14, 2022, the aircraft made its maiden flight on December 14, 2022. The swift progress in the aircraft’s development is a testament to Baykar's engineering excellence and efficiency, especially considering the complexity of such a sophisticated aircraft.

Since its maiden flight, Baykar has introduced several upgrades and improvements to the KIZILELMA. The production prototype, PT3, which successfully conducted the recent aerodynamics test, now features a more powerful engine equipped with an afterburner. This enhanced engine enables the KIZILELMA to approach the speed of sound, making it one of the fastest UAVs of its kind. In addition to its upgraded engine, the aircraft has undergone structural improvements that make it lighter and more durable, while its avionics architecture has been refined to enhance control and operational flexibility. The KIZILELMA is also equipped with an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, providing high situational awareness and real-time target tracking, which is essential for complex combat scenarios.

Bayraktar KIZILELMA is Türkiye’s first indigenous, carrier-capable, jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), developed by Baykar for advanced air combat and strike missions. (Picture source: Baykar)

The Bayraktar KIZILELMA is powered by a turbojet engine, which enables it to achieve high speeds and approach the speed of sound. Its engine is further enhanced with an afterburner, providing additional thrust for high-speed performance, and enabling rapid acceleration and improved maneuverability at higher altitudes. The aircraft’s jet propulsion system allows it to achieve a much higher level of speed and agility than traditional UAVs, making it highly effective for air-to-air combat, fast strike missions, and rapid response operations.

Designed with carrier-capability in mind, the KIZILELMA features a compact and robust airframe that enables it to operate from aircraft carriers and smaller naval platforms. This feature is a significant advantage for Turkey’s naval forces, as it allows the UCAV to launch and recover from limited space, making it an excellent addition to naval strike groups and enhancing the flexibility of Turkey's maritime operations. Its ability to operate from various platforms ensures that it can be deployed in a wide array of operational scenarios, ranging from strike missions to intelligence gathering.

In terms of avionics, the KIZILELMA is equipped with cutting-edge technology, including an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, which provides high-resolution surveillance, tracking, and targeting capabilities. This advanced radar system allows the UCAV to conduct precision strikes on both stationary and moving targets, while also supporting complex air-to-ground and air-to-air missions. The AESA radar’s capabilities extend to jamming and electronic warfare, providing KIZILELMA with the necessary tools to operate effectively in contested environments, where traditional aircraft would face significant challenges.

Stealth is another key feature of the Bayraktar KIZILELMA, which has been designed with low observability in mind. By incorporating stealth technologies, such as a reduced radar cross-section (RCS) and optimized airframe geometry, the KIZILELMA is able to avoid detection by enemy radar systems. This makes it an ideal platform for high-risk reconnaissance and strike missions in hostile airspaces, where maintaining the element of surprise is essential for mission success.

The KIZILELMA also boasts impressive payload capacity, capable of carrying a wide variety of weapons and mission-specific equipment. It can be equipped with precision-guided munitions (PGMs), air-to-ground missiles, and other payloads tailored to its mission requirements. This flexibility in payload options allows the KIZILELMA to perform a diverse set of roles, ranging from precision strikes on enemy installations and infrastructure to conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations. The aircraft’s large internal weapons bay helps maintain its stealth profile while carrying out such missions.

Designed for autonomous operations, the Bayraktar KIZILELMA is capable of flying and executing its missions with minimal human intervention. Equipped with advanced flight control systems, it can conduct autonomous surveillance, targeting, and strike missions, with the ability to adjust its flight path, engage targets, and return to base without the need for direct pilot input. This capability is particularly beneficial for reducing human risks in combat zones and enabling the aircraft to operate in complex, high-threat environments.

One of the most historic moments for the KIZILELMA came in May 2023, during the TEKNOFEST aerospace and technology festival. The KIZILELMA participated in a series of groundbreaking flights, including formation maneuvers with the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV. Most notably, it flew in a fleet formation with the Turkish Air Force's SOLOTURK F-16 demonstration team and the Turkish Stars, an aerobatic team flying F-5 aircraft, over Istanbul. These formation flights marked a significant achievement in aviation history, showcasing the KIZILELMA's advanced capabilities and solidifying its place as a pioneer in unmanned combat aircraft development. The flight concepts demonstrated during this event are expected to influence the future of air combat, as the KIZILELMA and other advanced drones play an increasingly important role in modern military strategies.

As the Bayraktar KIZILELMA moves closer to full operational deployment, it promises to be a game-changer for Turkey’s military capabilities. With its advanced features, including high-speed performance, carrier compatibility, and cutting-edge radar and avionics, the KIZILELMA is positioned to tackle a wide range of complex and high-stakes missions. Its role in future air combat, particularly in reducing human casualties while maintaining air superiority, is expected to revolutionize warfare strategies worldwide. The successful completion of the Aerodynamics System Identification Test marks just one of many steps on the road to full operational readiness for the KIZILELMA, signaling that Turkey is on the cutting edge of next-generation unmanned aerial combat technology.