Baykar said the 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”. The company added that Kizilelma had cleared “yet another critical threshold on its path to becoming a game-changer in the defense of our nation’s sky homeland”.
Baykar noted that unmanned fighter jet projects worldwide focus mainly on air to land roles. It said Kizilelma had become “the first and only platform in the world to demonstrate air-to-air combat capability through its latest firing test”.
Five F-16s from the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon joined Kizilelma over Sinop ahead of the strike. Baykar said the formation flight showcased future manned and unmanned air combat concepts, supported by Bayraktar Akinci capturing the event from the air.
During the scenario, a high-speed jet target was launched and detected by the MURAD radar mounted on Kizilelma. Once marked, the aircraft fired the Gökdoğan missile from its wing station and struck the target with precision.
Baykar said this was the first time in Turkish aviation that “an indigenous air-to-air missile was fired from an indigenous aircraft against an airborne target, guided by an indigenous radar”. The firm stated that the entire air to air mission chain was completed with local technology.
Senior military and industry officials observed the test from a formation of F-16s. Those onboard included Air Force Commander Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, Combat Air Forces Commander Gen. Rafet Dalkıran, ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol, and Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar.
Baykar said the test showed how future air combat will develop, adding that Kizilelma’s low radar cross-section and sensors enable it to detect opponents before being detected. The company described this concept as “seeing without being seen, striking without being hit”.
The jet has integrated several advanced systems, including the MURAD AESA radar and the low observable TOYGUN electro-optical targeting system. Previous tests included successful strikes with Tolun and Teber-82 munitions, while the latest firing confirmed its air to air capability.
Baykar highlighted its export driven model, noting it has funded all projects with its own resources since 2003. The company said it achieved 1.8 billion dollars in exports in both 2023 and 2024, generating 83 percent and then 90 percent of its revenue from foreign sales.
