The runway test campaign of the unmanned combat aircraft developed by the Türkiye’s company Baykar is progressing at a good pace, achieving a momentary lift off the ground during takeoff tests.
Bayraktar #KIZILELMA ✈️🍎🚀
🛫 Alçak İrtifa Kalkış İniş Testi ✅
🛫 Low altitude take off and landing test ✅#MilliTeknolojiHamlesi 🌍🇹🇷
— BAYKAR (@BaykarTech) December 3, 2022
Designed and built by Türkiye’s renowned unmanned systems manufacturer under the MIUS (for National Unmanned Aerial Combat System) program, the Kizilelma is an unmanned combat aircraft projected to carry out a multitude of military actions, such as offensive air-to-air and air-to-ground actions, air defense, escort, close air support (CAS), reconnaissance and intelligence, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) and destruction of enemy air defenses (DEAD).
The autonomously maneuvering Kızılelma will be capable of operating in partnership with piloted combat aircraft and will be able to carry air-to-air missiles and its own AESA radar, for protection.
The aircraft will feature a high operational altitude and a takeoff weight of 5,500 kilograms (12,125 pounds). It is expected to carry 1.5 tons of payload, being capable of flying for five hours and reaching speeds of up to 800 km/h (500 mph or Mach 0.64). The aircraft is powered by an AI-322F turbofan engine, supplied by the Ukrainian company Ivchenko-Progress.
The Kızılelma will also have the ability to take off and land autonomously from short runways, including that of Türkiye’s future flagship amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu, which is expected to enter service next month. The TCG Anadolu, an LHD (Landing Helicopter Dock) type vessel, would become the first of its kind in the world to operate organically with unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs), such as the future Bayraktar TB3 and the Kizilelma.
The Kizilelma’s naval operations capability will make up, in part, for the lack of a proper embarked fighter aircraft such as the Harrier or F-35B at TCG Anadolu.
Although the Kizilelma briefly left the ground during landing and take-off tests, this milestone does not constitute its first official flight. It could take place later this year or in early 2023.
