Baykar to deliver first Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet to Turkish Air Force in early 2026.

Baykar confirmed that the first serial-production Bayraktar Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet will be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in the first quarter of 2026.

As reported by the Ihlas News Agency (IHA) on January 5, 2026, Baykar announced that deliveries of the first serial-production Bayraktar Kizilelma unmanned fighter jet to the Turkish Armed Forces will begin in the first quarter of 2026. The delivery follows the completion of prototype testing, weapons integration trials, and radar and sensor evaluations conducted throughout 2025.
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The Kizilelma employs a broad spectrum of air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions, giving the Turkish Air Force its first unmanned system capable of both radar-guided air combat and low-observable strike missions. (Picture source: Baykar)

Halil Akar, Baykar's Flight Training and Test Center Unit Leader, also stated that, by January 2026, the company had delivered 110 Akinci drones to domestic and international customers, with a further 120 expected by the end of the year, and its systems were reported to be in active use by the Turkish Armed Forces and operators in 13 other countries. These announcements were made at the Baykar Flight Training and Test Center in the Çorlu district of Tekirdağ, where the Kizilelma has conducted its entire flight test campaign since its first flight on December 14, 2022. Baykar stated that five Kizilelma prototypes have been produced and flown, and that two units built to serial production standards have already been completed ahead of the planned delivery window.

Several operational milestones achieved during 2025 were presented as key steps toward the operational readiness of the Kizilelma. These included the first live firing tests with the Tolun small-diameter-class munition and the Teber-82 laser-guided bomb in October 2025, followed in the same month by the first flight with the Murad 100-A AESA radar. Additional milestones listed for November 2025 included the first flight with the Toygun 100 electro-optical targeting system, simulated firing activities with the Gökdoğan beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, and a reported beyond-visual-range hit on target using that missile. Toward the end of 2025, two Kizilelma prototypes also conducted an autonomous close-formation flight using smart fleet autonomy algorithms, combined with a combat air patrol mission profile flown along a predefined route.

Another milestone described for the same period was an air-to-air engagement in which the Kizilelma identified and struck an aerial target using the Murad AESA radar and a Gökdoğan missile, validating air-to-air capability ahead of initial deliveries. The Kizilelma development effort has been centered on the Çorlu facility, which has been operational since 2019 and conducts testing and training activities around the clock with a workforce of approximately 200 personnel. At this site, the Kizilelma flight testing is conducted in conjunction with preparation for end-user delivery, integrating technical evaluation with logistical and training requirements. Baykar described the center as responsible not only for flight tests but also for pilot and technician training and for handing aircraft over to operators, creating a continuous chain from development to final delivery in a single site. The production status described in early January 2026 reflects this integrated model, with prototype activity continuing in parallel with serial production rather than ending before deliveries begin.

Training related specifically to the Kizilelma is planned to begin in 2026, following a framework already applied to other Baykar unmanned systems, such as the Akinci. The training process is structured to begin with theoretical examinations covering aircraft systems, followed by simulator-based practical instruction, and then live flight training for candidates who meet simulator performance criteria. Pilot candidates are required to complete 30 successful sorties during flight tests to receive certification, with pilot training lasting five months and technician training lasting four months. Baykar stated that both Turkish Armed Forces personnel and international trainees are expected to take part in this training process once the Kizilelma enters the operational phase. For Baykar, this approach aims to align the start of training with the timing of initial deliveries, ensuring trained crews are available as aircraft enter service.

Baykar described the Kizilelma as an unmanned combat aircraft comparable in size to an F-16, with a wingspan of 10 meters and a maximum takeoff weight of 8.5 tonnes. Powered by a Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress AI-322F engine producing roughly 24.5 kN of thrust dry and up to about 41 kN with afterburner, the drone could carry a payload of up to 1.5 tonnes and remain airborne for approximately three hours, for a a cruise speed of about Mach 0.6 and a maximum speed approaching Mach 0.9, a combat radius around 500 nautical miles (approximately 926 km). It features eight munition loading stations in total, six located under the wings and two positioned internally within the fuselage. Operational altitude was stated as 25,000 feet, with Baykar noting that this figure is expected to increase as development continues and additional configurations are introduced.

Low observability is a central aspect of the Kizilelma, particularly through the use of internal weapon stations intended to reduce radar signature during combat missions. Baykar stated that the two internal munition bays were developed specifically to lower detectability on enemy radars, which is considered relevant to both aircraft survivability and mission execution in contested airspace. The aircraft also relies extensively on artificial intelligence to manage flight operations, with two operators involved during takeoff and landing phases and a single operator considered sufficient during the mission phase. All phases of flight, including taxiing, takeoff, cruise, and landing, are designed to be performed autonomously, supporting reduced operator workload during extended operations.

The Kizilelma is integrated into a broader unmanned system architecture composed of three main elements: the aircraft itself, the ground control station, and the ground data terminals that link the two. Baykar stated that some data terminals operate on a line-of-sight basis, while others rely on satellite antennas, enabling real-time data exchange during flight. Aircraft control is maintained through triple redundancy onboard, using mission computers, navigation computers, and software computers operating in parallel to ensure continuity of control. Once delivered, the Kizilelma will bring to the Turkish Air Force an air-to-air combat and beyond-visual-range engagement capability that Türkiye’s existing unmanned systems and earlier drones, such as Bayraktar TB2 or Akinci, do not possess, including the ability to detect, track, and engage fast, jet-powered targets where manned fighters were previously required.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.