The development of Türkiye’s first-ever unmanned fighter aircraft, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, continues with the integration of new capabilities. As part of ongoing activities at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, two Bayraktar KIZILELMA prototypes carried out a simultaneous mission in the skies.

YET ANOTHER UNPRECEDENTED ACHIEVEMENT BY KIZILELMA

During the test, Bayraktar KIZILELMA’s third and fifth prototypes, PT3 and PT5, took off sequentially. After climbing to altitude, the unmanned fighter aircraft operated in a coordinated manner, performing a formation flight with an autonomous combat pilot enabled by Baykar’s self-developed smart fleet autonomy algorithms. This marked the first time in global aviation history that two unmanned fighter aircraft performed a close formation flight autonomously. This technological advancement allows autonomous systems to execute complex aerial missions traditionally performed by manned fighter aircraft. The capability enables multiple unmanned platforms to autonomously position themselves and conduct joint missions under a single leader’s command.

AIR PATROL MISSION

During the test flight, the aircraft also conducted a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) mission, one of the core elements of modern aerial warfare. The Bayraktar KIZILELMA prototypes carried out a patrol flight along a predefined route, supported by fleet autonomy software. The test confirmed that indigenous unmanned fighter aircraft are capable of performing air defense missions as part of an autonomous fleet. In the future, patrol and interception missions—traditionally conducted by manned fighter aircraft to secure designated airspace—will be performed autonomously by KIZILELMA fleets.

THE FUTURE OF AERIAL WARFARE

Throughout the test, the autonomous systems and coordinated operation processes of the unmanned fighter aircraft were closely monitored. Bayraktar KIZILELMA, developed by Baykar using its own resources, will continue to enhance its capability to conduct coordinated multi-platform operations through its smart fleet autonomy infrastructure.

A FIRST IN AVIATION HISTORY: AIR-TO-AIR STRIKE

Bayraktar KIZILELMA entered global aviation history during a test conducted on November 29, 2025. In the historic test, carried out off the coast of Sinop, the unmanned fighter aircraft successfully struck an aerial target aircraft designated by ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar using a GÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missile developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE. With this achievement, Bayraktar KIZILELMA became the world’s first unmanned fighter aircraft to destroy an airborne target using an air-to-air missile, marking a milestone in unmanned aerial combat capabilities.