The company did not specify whether the model of MIUS is a mock-up or a prototype, but it appears to have the same shape and appearance as previously released drawings.
Baykar announced the name of the project as “BAYRAKTAR KIZILELMA”. KIZILELMA means “red apple” in Turkish, but refers to an expression in Turkish mythology that symbolizes goals, ideas, or dreams that are far away, but whose attraction is greater the further away they are.
Selcuk Bayraktar, Baykar’s Chief Technology Officer, also posted the photographs and noted that his company launched another brand-new product three and a half years after beginning manufacturing of Akinci UCAV.
“With the 5th generation fighters, the world is witnessing the end of manned fighters. No new manned combat aircraft will be developed. Unmanned systems will increasingly become the strongest elements on the battlefield in the future. We are also trying to ensure our country’s presence in future competitions.”
Selcuk Bayraktar, CTO of Baykar
As Naval News previously reported, Baykar unveiled the MIUS project on June 20, 2021. The announcement came along with several surprising renderings showing the future Turkish TCG Anadolu helicopter landing dock. This was an unexpected development, as Baykar is reportedly working on the TB3 Bayraktar UCAV to be deployed aboard TCG Anadolu, and MIUS will be a second option for aircraft operations.
After being removed from the F35 JSF project, the Turkish government decided to transform the future TCG Anadolu into a carrier ship for attack drones. In a March interview, SSB Head Ismail Demir stated that after the project is completed, between 30 and 50 folding-winged Bayraktar TB3 drones will be sent to Anadolu. After seven months, he disclosed in a TV interview that LHD Anadolu will house up to 80 drones.
MIUS – Turkey’s First Fighter UAV
Considering a future in which air combat will be dominated by unmanned technology, the “BAYRAKTAR KIZILELMA” developed entirely within Turkish borders will certainly play an increasingly important role in the future.
According to the information provided by the company, the BAYRAKTAR KIZILELMA will be a force to be reckoned with, primarily due to its aggressive maneuverability and stealth capability against radar. In addition, the BAYRAKTAR KIZILELMA will be able to take off and land on aircraft carriers with short runways and conduct missions with internally carried munitions.
The first BAYRAKTAR KIZILELMA prototype will use a turbofan to fly at Mach 0.8 near the speed of sound; later prototypes will fly at supersonic speeds. A SATCOM antenna will enable autonomous control via satellite, and MIUS can remain airborne for up to 5 hours. The unmanned jet will have 6 tons of takeoff weight and up to 1500 kg payload capacity.
Baykar Defense and Ukraine’s Ivchenko-Progress signed a contract for Bayraktar KIZILELMA to supply AI-322F turbofan engines for the unmanned jet during the Defense, Aerospace, and Defense Exhibition SAHA EXPO 2021, which was held in Istanbul from Nov. 10-13, 2021.
Bayraktar KIZILELMA will be equipped with an AESA radar developed by Turkey’s leading defence company Aselsan and will be capable of launching indigenous Bozdogan and Gokdogan air-to-air missiles. The future unmanned jet will be armed with SOM-J cruise missiles with a range of more than 250 km for surface warfare and Roketsan-made MAM family guided munitions for small strike operations.
BAYRAKTAR KIZILELMA’s maiden flight is scheduled for the end of 2023.
