Turkish KIZILELMA drone makes first flight with air-to-air missile VIDEO

Turkish defence company Baykar is actively expanding the test program for the fifth prototype of its Bayraktar KIZILELMA combat drone, the company announced on its X (formerly Twitter) page.

KIZILELMA is the world’s first combat unmanned aerial vehicle equipped with sensors used on fifth-generation fighter jets, Caliber.Az reports.

Previously, it conducted flights with the MURAD AESA radar and TOYGUN electro-optical targeting system (EOTS). The latest tests include the integration of the GÖKDOĞAN beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.

Baykar expects to soon integrate the KARAT infrared tracking system (IRST) into KIZILELMA. Once fully equipped, the drone will be able to detect, designate, and track both air and ground targets using MURAD for radio-frequency detection, TOYGUN for electro-optical thermal imaging, and KARAT for infrared tracking. Air targets can be engaged with GÖKDOĞAN missiles using data from these sensor systems.

The drone’s autonomy and manoeuvrability are critical to its operational effectiveness. The first live launch of a GÖKDOĞAN missile from the KIZILELMA test range is expected by the end of this year.

By Khagan Isayev