All about Bayraktar Kizilelma, the game-changer Türkiye’s UAV that shot down aircraft beyond visual range in a world's first

In a landmark breakthrough, a Turkish uncrewed fighter jet has successfully taken down a jet-powered aircraft using a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile during test trials — the first recorded instance of a UAV accomplishing this. The combat drone, known as Bayraktar Kizilelma, is developed by Turkish defence manufacturer Baykar.

According to TRT World, Baykar stated that the missile was launched from beneath the UAV’s wing after the target was detected and tracked using ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar. This also marked the first time in Turkish aviation history that a homegrown aircraft fired an indigenous air-to-air missile guided entirely by a domestic radar system.

The latest test establishes Kizilelma as the world’s first verified UAV with proven air-to-air combat capability, the report noted.


During the demonstration, five F-16s from the Merzifon air base flew in formation with Kizilelma, showcasing coordinated crewed-uncrewed mission capability. The drone’s low radar cross-section and advanced sensing systems allow it to track enemy aircraft from long distances while staying difficult to detect.



Kizilelma incorporates advanced technologies such as the MURAD AESA radar and the TOYGUN targeting system, and can employ various domestically produced munitions. In previous trials, it successfully carried out precision strikes using TOLUN and TEBER-82 weapons.

Key details about Türkiye’s Bayraktar Kizilelma

As per Baykar’s website, the Bayraktar Kizilelma fighter UAV measures 14.5 metres in length, 3.5 metres in height, with a 10-metre wingspan. It is designed in subsonic, transonic and supersonic variants, and can carry laser-guided weapons, missiles and long-range cruise missiles. Its payload capacity stands at 1,500 kg.

The drone can reach a maximum speed of 0.9 Mach and has a cruise speed of 0.6 Mach, a combat radius of 500 nautical miles, an operational altitude of 25,000 feet, and an endurance of over three hours. It has a maximum take-off weight of 8.5 tons.

Kizilelma also features high maneuverability, the ability to take off and land on short-runway aircraft carriers, advanced situational awareness provided by its AESA radar, and a low radar cross-section that enhances survivability.
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