Turkey Begins Serial Production of Kizilelma Combat Drone

Turkey has officially launched serial production of its jet-powered combat drone, Bayraktar Kizilelma, with the first deliveries expected in 2026.

The announcement was made by Selçuk Bayraktar, head of the Turkish defense company Baykar, during an interview with Savunma Sanayi ST:

“We started mass production of KIZILELMA this year. We expect it to enter the inventory next year. We’re currently continuing production. The sixth KIZILELMA is already on the production line,” he stated.

Bayraktar emphasized that Turkey, once unable to design its own aircraft, is now a global leader in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology.

🔹 Background

The Bayraktar Kizilelma project began with the unveiling of its design in 2021 under the name MIUS (Muharip İnsansız Uçak Sistemi – Combat Unmanned Aircraft System). Just a year later, it reached the prototype stage.

Despite initial plans to conduct the maiden flight in 2023, the first successful flight occurred ahead of schedule in December 2022. The second test flight followed in January 2023, and subsequent tests have also been successful.

🔹 Ukrainian Engines and Technical Specs

In 2021, Baykar ordered AI-322F and AI-25TLT jet engines from Ukraine’s state-owned Ivchenko-Progress to power Kizilelma. Deliveries continued through 2024.

Key specifications of Kizilelma (MIUS-A):

• Maximum altitude: 13,700 meters
• Operational altitude: 7,600 meters
• Endurance: Over 3 hours in the air
• Cruise speed: Mach 0.6
• Maximum speed: Mach 0.9
• Wingspan: 10 meters
• Length: 14.5 meters
• Height: 3.5 meters
• Maximum takeoff weight: 8,500 kg
• Payload capacity: 1,500 kg
• Flight: Fully autonomous — takeoff, cruise, landing, and taxiing
  

🔹 Advanced Capabilities and Future Plans

Kizilelma will feature:

• Electro-optical targeting systems
• Infrared optical systems
• Multimode AESA radar

It will be armed with:

• Laser-guided munitions
• Missiles
• Long-range cruise missiles

Baykar also plans to develop MIUS-B, a supersonic variant powered by a more powerful AI-322F engine and later Turkey’s indigenous TEI TF-6000, which is intended to replace the Ukrainian engines.

Turkey aims to produce 12 Kizilelma drones annually under the current plan.