A World First! KIZILELMA Now Hunts from the Air
Bayraktar KIZILELMA became the world’s first unmanned combat aircraft to hit a jet-powered target with a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile during a test off the coast of Sinop. A new era has begun in Turkish aviation history.
Turkey’s first unmanned combat aircraft, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, made aviation history during a test launch off the coast of Sinop by becoming the first UAV platform in the world to strike a jet-powered aerial target with a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
Developed entirely with domestic capabilities, the platform has elevated the technological level of unmanned combat aircraft to a new global standard.
Detection with MURAD AESA Radar, Perfect Hit with GÖKDOĞAN
Within the scenario, the high-speed, jet-powered target aircraft launched was first detected by the MURAD AESA radar developed by ASELSAN and tracked by KIZILELMA. Subsequently, the TÜBİTAK SAGE-developed GÖKDOĞAN Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile, carried under the wing, was fired. The national missile struck the target with perfect accuracy.
Historic Mission with F-16s
During the historic test, five F-16 fighter jets taking off from Merzifon 5th Main Jet Base met Bayraktar KIZILELMA in the skies over Sinop and performed a short joint flight. The test was followed moment by moment from the air.
“Air Superiority Rules Are Being Rewritten”
Officials from the ministry and defense industry also witnessed the historic event:
Minister of Industry and Technology Fatih Kacır: “Our technological capacity is rewriting the rules of air superiority.”
Presidency of Defense Industries Chairman Haluk Görgün: “A strong expression of Turkey’s long-term aviation vision.”
Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar: “I offer my gratitude as an engineer child of this nation.”
Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar: “We have completed the links of the air-to-air mission chain with national capabilities.”
Air Force Commander General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, Combat Air Forces Commander General Rafet Dalkıran, ASELSAN CEO Ahmet Akyol, and Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar supervised the launch on site.
Baykar Flight Training and Test Center Unit Leader Halil Akar stated: “Currently, no other unmanned combat aircraft in the world possesses this capability.”
New Concept: “See Without Being Seen, Strike Without Being Struck”
Thanks to its low radar cross-section, Bayraktar KIZILELMA is extremely difficult for enemy systems to detect, and with its advanced sensors, it can identify targets from very long distances.
This new concept is referred to in aviation literature as “See without being seen, strike without being struck.”
