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Baykar has produced five Kizilelma unmanned combat aircraft prototypes and two serial production aircraft, with the first delivery to the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) expected in the first quarter of 2026, Baykar Flight Training and Test Center Unit Leader Halil Akar said.
"We have produced 5 Kizilelma prototypes and two serial production aircraft. We have delivered 110 Akinci aircraft both domestically and internationally. Allah willing, this number will reach 120 more by the end of the year," Akar told Ihlas News Agency (IHA) at Baykar's Flight Training and Test Center in Tekirdag's Corlu district on Monday.
The Baykar Flight Training and Test Center, which began operations in 2019, conducts flight tests for Kizilelma and Akinci around the clock with approximately 200 personnel.
"Our main activities here are the test activities of the Bayraktar Akinci and Bayraktar Kizilelma aircraft, training for pilots and technicians of end users, and delivery of aircraft to end users," Akar said.
Baykar has provided pilot and technician training to more than 2,000 trainees from domestic and international customers since 2021.
"Currently, our aircraft are being actively used in 13 different countries plus the Turkish Armed Forces inventory. Baykar is the largest defense industry company in the world that exports the most UAVs. Currently, hundreds of our aircraft are conducting operations in 37 different countries," Akar said.
Kizilelma pilot and technician training will begin in 2026.
Trainees first undergo theoretical examinations on the aircraft's systems, then move to simulation-based practical training. Those who succeed in simulation qualify for flight training.
Trainees who successfully complete 30 sorties in flight tests receive pilot certification. Pilot training lasts 5 months, while technician training takes 4 months.
Turkish Armed Forces personnel and international trainees receive various training at the center.
Akar described the specifications of Türkiye's first unmanned combat aircraft, the Kizilelma.
"We call our aircraft an unmanned combat aircraft. Our aircraft has a 10-meter wingspan. To compare, it is approximately the size of an F-16 fighter aircraft," Akar said.
Kizilelma specifications:
Akar highlighted Kizilelma's stealth features, stating, "One of the most important features of the Kizilelma aircraft is that it has low observability. To ensure low observability, two munition loading stations were developed inside the fuselage. This way, the aircraft will have a low signature on enemy radars."
"This is an important factor for both the survivability of the aircraft and the success of the mission it will execute," he added.
"We use artificial intelligence effectively. During Kizilelma flights, two pilots work during takeoff and landing. During the mission, one pilot is sufficient to fly the aircraft," he noted.
Kizilelma's first flight took place on Dec. 14, 2022, at the Corlu facility.
Akar explained that UAV systems developed by Baykar consist of three main subsystems: the aircraft itself, the ground control station where the aircraft is controlled, and ground data terminals that connect both systems.
"Some of our ground data terminals work on the line-of-sight principle. One also works via satellite antennas. We can provide real-time data exchange during flight via antennas," Akar said.
"Our aircraft is effectively controlled with triple redundancy through mission computers, navigation computers and software computers on board," he added.
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