The Turkish Bayraktar Kizilelma Combat Drone, dubbed as an unmanned fighter jet, has successfully completed its maiden flight on 14 December 2022 at Akinci Flight Training and Test Range in Corlu Northwestern Turkey.

⌚ Timestamps:
00:00 First Flight of Turkish Bayraktar Kizilelma Combat Drone
00:43 History and Development of Bayraktar Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet program
02:10 Naming of the Kizilelma Combat Drone
02:35 Design of Bayraktar Kizilelma Combat Drone
03:25 Specifications of Bayraktar Kizilelma Combat Drone
04:03 Different Variants of Kizilelma Combat Drone
04:47 Weapons of Bayraktar Kizilelma Combat Drone

The Kizilelma features supersonic speed and state of the art maneuvering characteristics similar to advanced fighter jets. The combat drone is capable to conduct air to air and air to surface missions.
The supersonic stealth combat drone is being developed by the famous Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar for Turkish Armed Forces under the MIUS project. The drone is designed to be autonomously operated from aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships like Turkish upcoming TCG Anadolu. The MIUS classified project was initiated in 2013. The Turkish upcoming de-facto aircraft carrier was set to receive American F-35B fighter jets. However, Turkey was excluded from the Joint Strike Program in 2019 due to country’s procurement of S-400 air defense system from Russia. Since then, turkey has increased the focus on the speedy development of the Kizilelma combat drone. The details about the combat system were first made public in 2021 alongwith sharing of pictures of the first prototype.

On 19 September 2022, the engine integration test was successfully conducted. Two months later, the first automatic taxiing and various ground running tests were conducted which remained successful. Earlier this month, the aircraft cut its wheels off the ground for the very first time during takeoff tests. The first maiden flight of the combat drone was conducted on 14th December.

The Kizilelma combat drone has length of 14.7 meters and height of 3.3 meters. The maximum takeoff weight of the drone is around 6000 kg. The aircraft is powered by a single turbofan engine and has maximum speed of 1100 km per hour. The drone has effective combat range of 930 km and service ceiling of 14000 meters. It can have endurance of 6 hours.

The UCAV has state of the art stealth capabilities, autonomy, and ability to fly as loyal wingman of fighter jets. It is tailless blended-wing body design with internal weapon storage, double air inlets, coupled canard and vertical stabilizers. The drone is reportedly installed with advanced Electronic warfare system, signal intelligence suit, aperture targeting system, and Aesa radar. In November 2021, the Baykar signed the agreement with Ukrainian company Ivchenko Progress for supply of AI322F turbofan engine for the drone.

The Kizilelma is expected to be armed with advanced next generation indigenously developed Turkish missiles and guided munitions. Various precision strike weapons and bombs can be carried by the drone through its internal weapon bays and six external hard points. Turkey has plans to induct the drone into Turkish Air Force by 2023.

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