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Türkiye's Bayraktar Kizilelma prototypes achieved a historic milestone in aviation as they executed close formation flying entirely through autonomous systems, marking the first time unmanned warplanes have performed such coordinated maneuvers without human intervention.
The PT3 and PT5 prototypes of the Bayraktar Kizilelma conducted the test flight at the Akinci Flight Training and Test Center in Corlu, utilizing intelligent fleet algorithms and autonomous combat pilot systems developed by Baykar's engineering team.
The aircraft took off in succession and, once airborne, coordinated their movements through autonomous systems to maintain precise formation positions relative to each other.
This technological advancement transfers complex aerial operations traditionally performed by manned fighter jets to autonomous platforms.
The capability enables multiple unmanned systems to execute joint missions under a leader's command while autonomously adjusting their positions in relation to one another.
During the test flight, the Kizilelma prototypes also performed a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) mission, a fundamental component of modern air warfare.
The unmanned warplanes flew a predetermined patrol route using their fleet autonomy software, validating the feasibility of conducting air defense operations with formations of indigenous unmanned combat aircraft.
Such patrol and interception missions, typically carried out by fighter jets to protect specific areas, could be performed autonomously by Kizilelma fleets in future operations. Baykar's development team monitored the autonomous systems and coordinated operation processes closely throughout the test.
The formation flight test represents the newest capability addition for the Kizilelma, which has been undergoing continuous development.
On Nov. 29, the aircraft entered aviation history when it became the world's first unmanned combat aircraft to destroy a jet-powered aerial target using beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles. Operating off the coast of Sinop, the Kizilelma struck a target aircraft marked by ASELSAN's MURAD AESA radar using the GOKDOGAN missile developed by TUBITAK SAGE.
Baykar developed the Kizilelma entirely with its own resources, and the intelligent fleet autonomy infrastructure will continue evolving to support coordinated operations with multiple platforms. The company, recognized as the world's largest unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturer, has signed export agreements for its Bayraktar TB2 drone with 36 countries and for the Bayraktar Akinci with 16 countries, totaling 37 nations.
Baykar Chairman Selcuk Bayraktar described the accomplishment as a world first, while General Manager Haluk Bayraktar stated, "For the first time in world aviation history, two unmanned combat aircraft performed close formation flight autonomously. Not copying but inventing, not imitating but being followed."
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