Bayraktar KIZILELMA marked a first in world aviation history by successfully testing the autonomous formation flight and combat air patrol mission conducted by two unmanned combat aircraft.
Türkiye’s first unmanned combat aircraft, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, has achieved another first in world aviation history during its development process. Two different KIZILELMA prototypes successfully carried out an autonomous formation (wing) flight for the first time.
Testing of Bayraktar KIZILELMA’s new capabilities, developed by Baykar, continues. As part of the activities conducted at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Centre in Çorlu, two different Bayraktar KIZILELMA prototypes took off simultaneously and carried out a mission.
In the test conducted, Bayraktar KIZILELMA’s third prototype PT3 and fifth prototype PT5 performed consecutive take-offs. The two unmanned combat aircraft that took to the skies moved in coordination with each other thanks to intelligent fleet autonomy algorithms developed by Baykar engineers.
Within this scope, under the control of an autonomous combat pilot, the KIZILELMA aircraft carried out close formation flight, enabling two unmanned combat aircraft to perform autonomous formation flight for the first time in world aviation history.
Manned Missions Transferred to Autonomous Systems
With this critical capability achieved, an important threshold has been crossed towards transferring complex air missions carried out by manned fighter aircraft to autonomous systems. Thanks to intelligent fleet autonomy, multiple unmanned platforms can carry out joint missions under the command of a leader element by autonomously adjusting their positions relative to each other.
Combat Air Patrol Mission Successfully Tested
During the flight test, the CAP (Combat Air Patrol – Hava Devriyesi) mission, one of the fundamental elements of modern air combat, was also successfully tested. Bayraktar KIZILELMA prototypes conducted patrol flights along a designated route accompanied by fleet autonomy software.
With this test, it was confirmed that air defence missions can be carried out autonomously and in fleet formation by the national unmanned combat aircraft. It is aimed that patrol and interception missions conducted by fighter aircraft to protect specific regions will be carried out entirely autonomously by KIZILELMA fleets in the future.
A Domestic and National Step Towards the Future of Air Combat
Throughout the test process, the autonomous systems and cooperative operation capabilities of the unmanned combat aircraft were closely monitored. Developed entirely with Baykar’s own resources, Bayraktar KIZILELMA will continue to shape the future of air combat by enhancing its coordinated multi-platform operational capabilities thanks to its advanced fleet autonomy infrastructure.
