The test took place at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, with the production prototype PT3, identified by tail number TC-OZB3, performing a series of aerodynamics evaluations. The successful test highlights the aircraft’s continued progress towards operational readiness.
Bayraktar KIZILELMA has undergone several design enhancements, including structural reinforcements and improvements to its avionics systems. The latest test flight also featured an alternative engine with an integrated afterburner, allowing the aircraft to approach the speed of sound and execute more advanced manoeuvres.
Equipped with an AESA radar, the aircraft is designed to undertake complex combat missions with high situational awareness. These developments ensure that Bayraktar KIZILELMA is capable of performing demanding tasks in modern aerial warfare.
Baykar Technologies launched the Bayraktar KIZILELMA project in 2021 as a fully self-financed initiative. The aircraft was completed in record time, making its maiden flight on 14 December 2022, just one year after production began.
Since then, it has achieved several historic milestones, including formation flights with manned fighter jets during TEKNOFEST 2023. These groundbreaking demonstrations mark a significant shift in aerial combat strategies and the integration of unmanned and manned aircraft.
Baykar continues to be a leader in the global UAV industry, generating 90% of its revenue from exports. In 2023 and 2024, the company recorded $1.8 billion in exports, solidifying its position as the world’s largest UAV exporter.
