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Production Prototype of Turkish Bayraktar Kizilelma Drone Completes its First Flight.
On September 25, 2024, Turkey’s first unmanned combat aircraft, the Bayraktar Kizilelma, reached a significant milestone with the successful first flight of its third production prototype. This flight marks a crucial step in Turkey’s combat drone development program.
The Bayraktar Kizilelma Unmanned Combat Aircraft. (Picture source: Baykar)
The prototype, identified by its tail number TC-ÖZB3, successfully took off from the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ. Before this inaugural flight, the aircraft underwent a series of rigorous ground tests, including engine run-up, automatic taxi, and lift-off tests. These tests were essential to preparing the prototype for its first flight.
The success of this flight was overseen by Selçuk Bayraktar, President and Chief Technology Officer of Baykar, who confirmed that this short test flight marked the beginning of a long testing process. He expressed optimism about the future of the Bayraktar Kizilelma, emphasizing that the ongoing tests would further enhance the aircraft's capabilities for the benefit of the nation.
The production prototype of the Bayraktar Kizilelma incorporates several improvements over previous models. Structural upgrades and innovations in avionics architecture have been made, and the aircraft is now equipped with an afterburner engine, allowing it to approach the speed of sound. With improved aerodynamics, the aircraft offers enhanced performance at high speeds and in complex maneuvers. Additionally, the AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar ensures high situational awareness, enabling the aircraft to carry out advanced combat missions.
The Kizilelma project is progressing at an accelerated pace. Launched in 2021 with 100% equity from Baykar, the project saw its first prototype roll off the production line in November 2022, followed by its first flight one month later. This rapid development underscores Baykar’s commitment to innovation in unmanned combat systems.
One of the most remarkable features of the Bayraktar Kizilelma is its ability to take off and land on short-runway vessels, such as Turkey’s TCG Anadolu. This capability provides a major strategic advantage, particularly in overseas missions and the defense of Turkey’s maritime interests, often referred to as the "Blue Homeland."
The successful first flight of the Bayraktar Kizilelma’s production prototype marks a new chapter in Turkey’s aerospace ambitions and paves the way for further advances in unmanned combat aviation.
The production prototype of the Bayraktar KIZILELMA incorporates several improvements over previous models. (Picture source: Baykar)