Turkey’s Kizilelma Combat Drone Prepares For First Flight After Successful Ground Tests

A file image of the Turkish national flag. Birol Bebek/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey’s Bayraktar Kizilelma combat drone, described as the nation’s first “unmanned fighter jet” with a maximum takeoff weight of 6 metric tons, has successfully completed ground tests ahead of its first flight.

Turkish drone maker Baykar announced on Nov. 20 that its Kizilelma combat drone had passed the taxi and takeoff run tests at the Akinchi Flight Training and Test Center at Corlu, in northwestern Turkey, Aerotime Hub reported.

“Our goal was to run at slightly slower speeds in the first takeoff roll test, but we exceeded that limit,” Selcuk Bayraktar, Baykar’s chief technology officer, said in a Twitter video.

“Kizilelma completed the first autonomous taxi and takeoff roll test without any problems,” he added.

The Kizilelma was built to be a stealthy unmanned combat jet with features on par with piloted fighter jets. It can carry 1,500 kilograms (1.7 tons) of payload and perform air-to-ground and air-to-air missions, according to the report.

The Kizilelma combat drone has a range of 926 kilometers (575 miles), with landing and takeoff capabilities from ships with short runways. Baykar said the combat drone is due to make its first flight in 2023.

The combat drone, which is part of Baykar’s Unmanned Combat Aircraft System (MIUS) project, has a maximum speed of 900 kilometers (559 miles) per hour and can fly for five hours, according to reports.

Baykar first announced the Kizilelma in July 2021. In November 2021, the company signed a deal with the Ukrainian aircraft engine manufacturer Ivchenko-Progress for the procurement of engines for its unmanned fighter jets.

Ivchenko-Progress will provide Turkey with the AI-322F engine under the deal. Baykar said the contract would strengthen the strategic cooperation between the two countries amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“I am confident that our collaborative efforts will contribute to the security and independence of the two countries, as well as provide the world with a new and stronger product,” Igor Kravchenko, General Manager of Ivchenko-Progress, said on Nov. 11, 2021.