Turkey’s first Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned combat aircraft, developed by Baykar Technologies, is moving towards serial production, with plans to start in 2024.
Baykar, a leading Turkish defense company, achieved a major milestone when the Kızılelma rolled off the production line in November 2022. A series of ground tests were then successfully completed at the flight training and test center of the northwestern province of Tekirdağ, in the district of Çorlu.
The next target is to start serial production of the warplane in 2024. In addition, the drone is scheduled to start flight tests from Turkey’s largest warship, TCG Anadolu, in 2025, further consolidating plus its potential as a formidable addition to Turkey’s military fleet.
Two prototypes of the drone have been manufactured so far, demonstrating the remarkable progress of the project. Last December, the Kızılelma took its maiden flight to the skies one year after it was manufactured. Throughout the month of April, the aircraft underwent rigorous system identification and flight tests, all of which were successfully completed.
The Kızılelma can carry 1,500 kilograms of payload (weapons, gadgets, etc.). Its flight autonomy is 930 kilometers, while its operational altitude is 10,668 meters. The drone can operate in the air for five hours and has a top speed of 900 km/h.
In other recent developments, Baykar has signed major export deals. Kicking off 2023, the company signed a lucrative deal with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Defense, resulting in a $370 million export contract for the Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle. The latest export agreement was signed with Romania, adding the Bayraktar TB2 to the inventories of four NATO member countries.
Rushet Daily News
