The Bayraktar Kızılelma, Turkey's pioneering uncrewed fighter jet, has reached a significant achievement in aviation technology by successfully engaging and downing a jet-powered aircraft through the use of a beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile. This event represents a milestone as it is the first documented occasion that an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has demonstrated air-to-air combat capabilities, powered by domestically engineered radar and missile technologies. The Turkish defense firm Baykar, responsible for the development of the Kızılelma, announced that during the trials, the UAV effectively launched the GÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missile, which successfully struck a high-speed target.
The missile was deployed from beneath the wing of the Kızılelma after the target had been effectively detected and tracked using ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar technology. This event is notable in Turkish aviation history as it marks the first instance where a national aircraft has fired a domestically manufactured air-to-air missile, controlled by a national radar system, at an airborne target. Following this remarkable feat, the Kızılelma has been recognized as the 'first and only' UAV in the world with formally verified air-to-air combat capability.
In a demonstration of collaborative operations, five F-16 fighter jets from the Merzifon Air Base participated in formation flights alongside the Kızılelma during the trials, showcasing a seamless integration of crewed and uncrewed platforms. The advanced features of the Kızılelma include a low radar cross-section and sophisticated sensors that allow for the detection of enemy aircraft from considerable distances, while itself remaining largely undetected. Additionally, the Kızılelma employs cutting-edge technologies such as the TOYGUN targeting system and is capable of deploying various domestically produced munitions. Previous test flights have successfully confirmed the UAV's precision by achieving direct hits with munitions like TOLUN and TEBER-82.
This advancement not only underlines Turkey's growing capabilities in unmanned aerial systems but also positions the Bayraktar Kızılelma as a formidable player in modern military aviation.