Baykar’s Kizilelma drone makes progress with first air-to-air kill
The Kizilelma drone mid-flight with the Gökdoğan missile on its wing station. (Photo: Bayraktar)
This test is the latest milestone achieved by the indigenous drone, destroying a target using a beyond-visual-range missile.
Turkish defence company Baykar’s uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) Bayraktar Kizilelma has hit another milestone in its development progress with its first air-to-air missile strike.
The UAV deployed Tubitak Sage’s Gökdoğan air-to-air missile which struck the aircraft target, marked using Aselsan’s MURAD AESA radar. The MURAD radar made its maiden flight with the F-16 Ozgur in 2024 and has also been tested on the Akinci.
This successful test marks the first time an uncrewed fighter jet has destroyed a jet-engine powered aerial target, using a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile, according to Baykar.
The Kizilelma drone also conducted crewed-uncrewed teaming demonstrations over the
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![US Air Force to add new capabilities to its in-service and future T-7A fleet]()
US Air Force to add new capabilities to its in-service and future T-7A fleet
As the T-7A programme recovers from delays and rising costs, the USAF is signalling new opportunities in anti-jamming GPS, collision avoidance, advanced flight controls and pilot interface improvements.
-
![“Fifth-gen capability without the cost”: how autonomous strike can change the face of air warfare]()
“Fifth-gen capability without the cost”: how autonomous strike can change the face of air warfare
In Conversation… Armor Harris, Senior Vice President for Aircraft at Shield AI, talks to Shephard’s Gerrard Cowan about why cost-effective autonomous aircraft are a game-changer for air forces worldwide, and the key roles played by VTOL and AI as enabling technologies.
-
![Additional delays might hit Pentagon’s critical air programmes, GAO warns]()
Additional delays might hit Pentagon’s critical air programmes, GAO warns
B-52 modernisation, Sentinel, MH-139A, T-7A and Air Force One replacement are among the US Air Force programmes the GAO says remain at risk of further schedule slips and cost growth due to acquisition and management challenges.
-
![NATO’s GlobalEye selection reflects a move towards greater European defence autonomy]()
NATO’s GlobalEye selection reflects a move towards greater European defence autonomy
The joint acquisition of Saab’s GlobalEye AEW&C aircraft by 11 allies marks the end of NATO’s more than four-decade reliance on a US-built airborne early warning platform.
