Bayraktar Kızılelma
Baykar Tech · Türkiye · also known as Bayraktar KIZILELMA, KIZILELMA · Updated
Bayraktar Kızılelma ("Red Apple") is a jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) developed by Baykar of Turkey, first flown on 14 December 2022. Conceived as an unmanned fighter aircraft able to operate from short-runway aircraft carriers and fly air-to-air and air-to-ground combat missions, it is Baykar's most advanced aircraft and the most capable type developed under Turkey's domestic combat-drone programme.
Overview
Conceptual work began in 2013 under Turkey's Project MIUS (Combatant Unmanned Aircraft System), with Baykar releasing the first public design details in July 2021 and announcing the Kızılelma name in March 2022. After engine integration and ground-run testing in late 2022, the aircraft made its maiden flight on 14 December 2022, ahead of Baykar's own original 2023 target. A production-standard third prototype, with an afterburning engine and updated avionics, first flew on 25 September 2024, and Baykar said in October 2024 that series production had begun, targeting more than ten aircraft built by 2026. Baykar has stated that first deliveries to the Turkish Armed Forces are planned for 2026.
Baykar is developing three variants: the initial Kızılelma-A with a single AI-25TLT turbofan; a planned supersonic Kızılelma-B with a single AI-322F engine; and a planned supersonic, twin-engine Kızılelma-C. In May 2026, Indonesia signed a framework agreement for an initial 12 Kızılelma-C aircraft with options for up to 60, though Indonesia's defence ministry said in October 2026 that no firm procurement contract had yet been signed; Pakistan has also reported interest in buying or co-producing the type.
Design and capabilities
The Kızılelma has a 10-metre wingspan, is 14.5 metres long, and has a maximum take-off weight of 8,500 kg with a payload capacity of up to 1,500 kg carried both internally and externally. Baykar states a cruise speed of Mach 0.6 and a maximum speed of Mach 0.9, an endurance of more than 3 hours, a combat radius of about 500 nautical miles (roughly 926 km), an operational altitude of 25,000 ft and a service ceiling of 40,000 ft (12,192 m). The design is intended to allow short take-off and landing from aircraft carriers, and Baykar describes a modular airframe that can be configured for different mission profiles.
Sensors include an electro-optical targeting system, an infrared search-and-track system, and a multi-mode AESA radar, combined with a low radar cross-section. Baykar lists air-to-air missiles, INS/GPS and laser-guided munitions, stand-off weapons and cruise missiles among compatible armaments. Flight testing has included live weapons releases, among them a Gökdoğan beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile fired at a target drone on 30 November 2025, which Baykar described as a first for an autonomous aerial platform, and a close-formation, AI-enabled flight by two Kızılelma aircraft on 17 December 2025. In 2026, Baykar conducted crewed–uncrewed teaming trials alongside a Leonardo M-346 trainer and live-fire tests with Teber-82/LGK-82 guided bombs and a Jet-230 missile.
Operational history
As of its most recent public milestones, the Kızılelma had not entered operational service with any air arm; Baykar's stated plan is for first deliveries to the Turkish Air Force and Navy in 2026. No export customer has yet signed a firm contract, though Indonesia has a framework agreement for the Kızılelma-C variant and Pakistan has expressed interest.
Baykar's other short-runway, carrier-capable aircraft is the smaller Bayraktar TB3, and its larger, propeller-driven sibling is the Bayraktar Akıncı.
Frequently asked questions
When did the Bayraktar Kızılelma first fly?
Its maiden flight was on 14 December 2022.
How big is it?
It has a 10-metre wingspan, is 14.5 metres long, and has a maximum take-off weight of 8,500 kg.
How fast does it go?
Baykar states a cruise speed of Mach 0.6 and a maximum speed of Mach 0.9.
Is it in service?
Not yet. Baykar's stated plan is for first deliveries to Turkish forces in 2026.
Which countries have ordered it?
Indonesia signed a framework agreement in May 2026 for the Kızılelma-C variant, though no firm procurement contract had been confirmed as of October 2026; Pakistan has expressed interest.
Who makes the Bayraktar Kızılelma?
Baykar of Turkey, which also builds the smaller Bayraktar TB3 and the larger Bayraktar Akıncı.
