Bayraktar Kızılelma, Türkiye’s first unmanned combat aircraft, has successfully completed yet another critical test. Developed indigenously by Baykar, Bayraktar Kızılelma has passed the Aerodynamic System Identification Test with flying colours. An official statement confirmed the successful completion of the test.

Afterburner-Powered Prototype Excels in Testing

Taking off from the Akıncı Flight Training and Test Centre in Çorlu, the PT3 production prototype of Kızılelma, bearing the tail number TC-OZB3, demonstrated outstanding performance during the aerodynamic system identification tests.

Based on experience gained from initial prototypes, the production prototype of Kızılelma has undergone significant structural enhancements and avionics system upgrades. Furthermore, the test flight was successfully completed with the integrated afterburner engine alternative.

High Speed, Superior Manoeuvrability

With its reinforced engine structure, Bayraktar Kızılelma has the potential to approach supersonic speeds. Thanks to aerodynamic refinements, it can execute highly agile manoeuvres at high speeds. Additionally, equipped with AESA radar technology, it possesses high situational awareness, enabling it to carry out the most challenging missions with precision.

Reaching the Skies in Record Time

The Bayraktar Kızılelma project commenced in 2021, and on 14 November 2022, the prototype with the tail number TC-OZB rolled off the production line and was transported to the test centre in Çorlu. Rapidly completing ground tests, Kızılelma took to the skies for the first time on 14 December 2022—an impressive achievement, reaching flight status in just one year.

Throughout 2023, Bayraktar Kızılelma made aviation history by performing groundbreaking flights at TEKNOFEST events. It also carried out formation flights alongside the Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV. Moreover, on 1 May 2023, it flew in formation over Istanbul with SOLOTÜRK’s F-16s and the Turkish Stars’ F-5 jets, marking a significant milestone in global aviation. These pioneering flight concepts are set to shape the future of air combat doctrines.

Baykar Continues to Lead in Defence Exports

Since embarking on its UAV R&D journey in 2003, Baykar has maintained rapid progress, generating a substantial portion of its revenue from exports and making a significant contribution to Türkiye’s economy. In 2023, Baykar achieved an export volume of $1.8 billion, ranking among the top 10 exporters across all industries in Türkiye.

Sustaining this success in 2024, Baykar once again recorded $1.8 billion in exports, with 90% of its revenue derived from international sales. As the leading exporter in the defence and aerospace sector, Baykar was responsible for one-third of the sector’s total exports in 2023 and a quarter in 2024, positioning Türkiye at the forefront of the global UCAV export market.

Currently the world’s largest producer of unmanned aerial vehicles, Baykar has secured export agreements for the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV with 34 countries and for the Bayraktar Akıncı UCAV with 11 countries, solidifying its global success.

© AeroHaber.com / Mevlüt Zor / mevlutzorr@gmail.com

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