Türkiye’s next-generation unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), the Bayraktar Kızılelma, has successfully completed its first live-fire trials. The milestone marks a significant step in the evolution of the country’s indigenous unmanned air combat capabilities and underscores the growing maturity of the Kızılelma program.
Live-Fire Test Details and Weapon Integration
The live-fire test took place at Sinop Missile Test Range on October 10, 2025. During the trial, the Kızılelma-A prototype launched a domestically-produced TÜBİTAK SAGE KGK-SİHA-82 guided bomb from its internal weapons bay. This munition is an adaptation of the standard 500-lb Mk-82 general-purpose bomb fitted with a winged guidance kit to extend its range up to 30–40 km when launched from medium altitude.
Flight footage released by Baykar shows the Kızılelma taking off from Çorlu Airport Command and flying north over the Black Sea before releasing the KGK-SİHA-82 munition at high subsonic speed. The weapon successfully impacted its designated target area at Sinop range. The test validated both safe separation and guidance accuracy using onboard targeting systems and datalink connectivity.
This marks the first time that Kızılelma has deployed a live munition in flight since its maiden flight in December 2022. While previous tests focused on flight envelope expansion and avionics validation, this trial confirms kinetic strike capability against ground targets — a key mission profile for future operations.
Kızılelma Program Overview
The Bayraktar Kızılelma (formerly known as MIUS – Muharip İnsansız Uçak Sistemi) is Türkiye’s flagship stealthy UCAV project developed by Baykar Technologies. Designed for carrier-capable operations and contested airspace missions, it blends features of manned fighter aircraft with autonomous drone architecture.
- Wingspan: ~10 meters
- Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW): ~6 tons
- Payload capacity: ~1.5 tons
- Cruise speed: High subsonic (future variants planned for supersonic)
- Endurance: Estimated 5–6 hours
- Engine: AI-25TLT turbofan (initial variant); future variants to use indigenous TEI TF6000/TF10000 engines
Kızılelma is designed to operate from short runways and potentially from Türkiye’s future amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu (LHD), which was initially intended to host F-35Bs before Türkiye was removed from the JSF program. The UCAV includes low-observable shaping features, internal weapons bays for reduced radar cross-section (RCS), and advanced mission computers developed by ASELSAN.
Munitions Compatibility and Sensor Suite
The successful integration of TÜBİTAK SAGE’s KGK-SİHA-82 is just one part of a broader weapons roadmap for Kızılelma. According to Baykar officials and Turkish defense sources:
- KIZILELMA will support MAM-T/L/C smart micro-munitions, SOM-J cruise missiles, TUBITAK BOZOK laser-guided bombs, and AIR-to-AIR missiles like GÖKTUĞ family (GÖKDOĞAN/BOZDOĞAN).
- The platform is equipped with an AESA radar developed by ASELSAN for air-to-air engagement capability.
- An electro-optical targeting system (EOTS) under development will allow passive target acquisition.
- Datalink integration supports manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) concepts for joint ops with TB3 drones or manned fighters like F-16s or HÜRJETs.
This modularity positions KIZILELMA as a multi-role asset capable of suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses (SEAD/DEAD), deep strike missions, and limited air-to-air roles — especially in GPS-contested or denied environments where autonomy and sensor fusion are critical.
Tactical Implications for Turkish Air Power
KIZILELMA represents a doctrinal shift in how Türkiye envisions future aerial warfare. Unlike traditional MALE drones such as TB2 or ANKA-S that focus on ISR-strike missions against insurgents or low-intensity targets, KIZILELMA is tailored toward high-intensity peer conflict scenarios.
The platform’s stealth shaping allows it to penetrate defended airspace while carrying precision-guided munitions internally. Its ability to operate from naval platforms like TCG Anadolu expands Türkiye’s expeditionary reach into Aegean/Eastern Mediterranean theaters without reliance on foreign basing rights or vulnerable runways.
If paired with loyal wingman-type drones or used in swarms alongside TB3s/UAVs under human-on-the-loop control, KIZILELMA could serve as both spearhead and force multiplier in contested environments — complicating adversary IADS planning and saturating radar coverage zones.
Next Steps: Supersonic Variant & Carrier Certification
The current A variant uses a Ukrainian-supplied AI-25TLT engine offering high-subsonic performance. However, Baykar plans to field upgraded B/C variants powered by indigenous TEI TF6000/TF10000 engines capable of supersonic speeds — potentially exceeding Mach 1.4 depending on configuration and payload drag profile.
A separate line of testing is underway to validate carrier suitability aboard TCG Anadolu using short takeoff techniques without catapults. Arrestor gear integration remains unconfirmed but may be added later if STOBAR-like operations are pursued. Navalized TB3 drones have already begun deck trials aboard Anadolu as part of this broader naval UAV ecosystem push.
Strategic Context: Indigenous Capability Amid Sanctions Pressure
The successful live-fire trial comes amid ongoing efforts by Ankara to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers following arms embargoes imposed during conflicts involving Turkish drones abroad. By integrating domestically-developed munitions like KGK-SİHA-82 and sensors such as ASELSAN’s AESA radar, Türkiye aims to create a sovereign UCAV ecosystem resilient against export restrictions.
This aligns with Ankara’s broader defense industrial policy under SSB leadership which emphasizes local content rates above 70% across new platforms — including land systems like ALTAY MBT and naval assets like MILGEM corvettes.
Conclusion: From Prototype to Operational Asset?
KIZILELMA’s first live-fire test signals more than just technical progress; it reflects Türkiye’s ambition to become a tier-one drone power not only in counterinsurgency but also peer-level warfare domains. With further testing slated through late 2025 into early 2026 — including aerial refueling trials and AI-assisted mission autonomy — operational IOC may be achievable within two years if funding remains stable.
If successful, KIZILELMA could become one of few stealthy carrier-capable UCAVs globally — joining elite company alongside U.S.-developed MQ-25 Stingray or China’s GJ-11 Sharp Sword analogues but at significantly lower cost thresholds tailored for regional power projection needs.
