Unmanned Fighter Jet Bayraktar KIZILELMA Hits Target in First Air-to-Air Test-Firing

On November 30, 2025, Türkiye’s drone manufacturer Baykar announced that the Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned fighter jet successfully engaged and destroyed an aerial target using the indigenously developed GÖKDOGAN air-to-air missile. KIZILELMA is expected to operate aboard Turkish Navy’s flagship, TCG Anadolu, as well as the MUGEM aircraft carrier currently under construction.

Baykar press release

Bayraktar KIZILELMA, indigenously and originally developed by Baykar, has recorded yet another unprecedented achievement in the history of global combat aviation history. Türkiye’s indigenous unmanned fighter jet struck a target aircraft, marked by ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar, with complete accuracy using TUBITAK SAGE’s GÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missile during a test off the coast of Sinop. This test marked the first time in aviation history that an unmanned fighter jet successfully destroyed a jet-engine–powered aerial target using a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) air-to-air missile.

Türkiye’s first-ever unmanned fighter jet, Bayraktar KIZILELMA—developed indigenously and originally by Baykar with its own resources—has cleared yet another critical threshold on its path to becoming a game-changer in the defense of our nation’s sky homeland. The latest test, conducted in the Sinop Firing Area, marked the first time that an unmanned fighter jet successfully struck a jet-powered aerial target with an air-to-air missile.

First and Only in the World in Air Combat

The vast majority of unmanned fighter jet projects worldwide are designed primarily for air-to-land missions. While no other unmanned platform has achieved air-to-air firing capability to date, Bayraktar KIZILELMA has become the first and only platform in the world to demonstrate air-to-air combat capability through its latest firing test—opening a new chapter in aviation history.

KIZILELMA’s Formation Flight with F-16s

Five F-16 fighter jets, which departed from the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon for the historic test, joined Bayraktar KIZILELMA over Sinop. Bayraktar KIZILELMA conducted a five-aircraft formation flight with F-16s, demonstrating the air combat concept of the future through manned–unmanned joint operations. Meanwhile, the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV accompanied the formation, capturing the historic performance from the air.

As part of the test scenario, a high-speed, jet-engine–powered target aircraft was launched. It was detected and tracked by ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar, integrated into Bayraktar KIZILELMA. Once the radar precisely marked the target, KIZILELMA fired a GÖKDOĞAN BVR (beyond visual range) air-to-air missile—developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE—from its wing station. The indigenous missile struck the jet-powered target with complete accuracy.

With this test, the air-to-air attack capability of the indigenous unmanned fighter jet Bayraktar KIZILELMA was also verified. For the first time in Turkish aviation history, an indigenous air-to-air missile was fired from an indigenous aircraft against an airborne target, guided by an indigenous radar. In this way, every link in the air-to-air mission chain was executed entirely with indigenous capabilities.

This test, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in Türkiye’s aviation history, was monitored live from the air. Air Force Commander Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, Combat Air Forces Commander Gen. Rafet Dalkıran, ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol, and Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar were aboard a formation of F-16s that departed from Merzifon, overseeing the historic strike from the cockpits. The delegation following the test also included TÜBİTAK SAGE Institute Director Kemal Topalömer and ROKETSAN General Manager Murat İkinci.

“Sees Without Being Seen, Strikes Without Being Hit”

The historic live-fire test also demonstrated how the air combat concepts of the future will take shape. The game-changing impact that Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs created in air-to-ground missions will now be carried into air-to-air missions with Bayraktar KIZILELMA. Possessing a much lower radar cross-section (RCS) compared to existing fighter jets, Bayraktar KIZILELMA can detect enemy aircraft from very long distances—before they can detect it—thanks to its advanced onboard sensors. With this new concept of “seeing without being seen, striking without being hit,” Bayraktar KIZILELMA will become a platform that delivers decisive superiority in air combat.

Bayraktar KIZILELMA also stands out with its array of critical mission systems. To date, the platform has successfully integrated advanced technologies—produced only by a select number of countries worldwide—such as ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar and the low-observable electro-optical targeting system TOYGUN. Possessing a wide range of munitions options, Türkiye’s indigenous unmanned fighter jet will be able to employ all indigenously produced munitions. In previous tests, Bayraktar KIZILELMA achieved direct hits on targets using TOLUN and TEBER-82 munitions. With the GÖKDOĞAN firing, it has now demonstrated its competence not only in air-to-ground missions but also in air-to-air engagements.

Export Leader

Since its founding, Baykar has carried out all of its projects using its own resources, and has generated 83% of its revenue from exports since the beginning of its UAV R&D efforts in 2003. In 2023, Baykar achieved $1.8 billion in exports, ranking among the top 10 exporting companies across all sectors in Türkiye. As the world’s leading exporter in the unmanned aerial vehicle market, Baykar continued its global success in 2024 as well, generating 90% of its revenue from exports and once again reaching $1.8 billion in export volume.

Baykar, which received the Export Champions Award by ranking among Türkiye’s top 10 exporting companies across all sectors in both 2023 and 2024, has been the export leader of the defense and aerospace industry for four consecutive years—2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024—according to data from the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). In 2023, Baykar alone accounted for one-third of the entire sector’s exports. In 2024, it single-handedly carried out one-quarter of Türkiye’s total defense and aerospace exports, securing Türkiye’s position as the global leader in the unmanned aerial vehicle export market. As the world’s largest unmanned aerial vehicle company, Baykar has signed export agreements with a total of 37 countries—36 for the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV and 16 for the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV.

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Naval News comments

Bayraktar KIZILELMA is Turkey’s first jet-powered unmanned combat aircraft designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and naval aviation missions. Developed by Baykar as a low-observable, high-agility platform, it aims to undertake roles traditionally assigned to manned fighters while reducing operational cost and risk. The aircraft features autonomous flight capability, an AI-enabled mission computer, and a structure optimized for short-runway and carrier operations.

Powered by a single turbofan engine, KIZILELMA has a maximum take-off weight of roughly 6,000 kg and can carry about 1,500 kg of weapons in internal and external stations. It incorporates an indigenous AESA radar, the TOYGUN electro-optical targeting system, and secure long-range datalinks. Designed for high-subsonic performance in its initial configuration, future variants are expected to approach transonic speeds. The aircraft is compatible with a wide range of Turkish smart munitions and achieved a major milestone by successfully firing the GÖKDOGAN air-to-air missile and destroying a live aerial target—marking a first for unmanned fighter aircraft.

According to company officials, KIZILELMA will form the core of the Turkish Navy’s airpower aboard its flagship TCG Anadolu, operating alongside the Bayraktar TB-3 UCAV. The unmanned fighter jet is also planned for deployment on the Turkish Navy’s future aircraft carrier, known as MUGEM. With its carrier-capable design and multi-role mission set, KIZILELMA is positioned to become a central element of Turkey’s distributed naval and air combat capability in the coming years.