Baykar Technologies has officially announced the start of mass production for the jet-powered Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). Scheduled to be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in 2026, Kızılelma stands out as a critical milestone in Türkiye’s advancement in national and indigenous aviation technology.
Chairman of Baykar’s Board, Selçuk Bayraktar, highlighted the importance of the project, stating, “Assembly of the sixth prototype is nearly complete. Kızılelma is the first combat aircraft in its class to enter mass production—and we achieved this before the US and Israel.” Bayraktar also noted that Türkiye holds a 65% share in the global unmanned aerial vehicle market, with 60% of that belonging to Baykar.
Designed in Türkiye and produced entirely with domestic resources, the Bayraktar Kızılelma features low radar visibility, high manoeuvrability, and compatibility with aircraft carrier operations. Developed to perform a wide range of combat missions, Kızılelma is designed to operate in high-threat environments in coordination with manned aircraft and other UAV systems.
