The Bayraktar KIZILELMA Unmanned Fighter Aircraft has achieved a significant milestone in global aviation by successfully completing its first firing test with an air-to-ground supersonic missile. The test, which took place in Merzifon, saw the KIZILELMA S2 effectively strike its target using the JET-230 supersonic missile.
Merzifon, Amasya 13 July 2026
Baykar is actively advancing the development of Türkiye’s inaugural unmanned fighter aircraft, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, through the integration of new advanced capabilities. The recent test at the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon involved the KIZILELMA firing the Roketsan JET-230 missile.
FIRST FIRING WITH JET-230
On July 8, 2026, the serial production model of Bayraktar KIZILELMA, tail number S2, departed from the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu for the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon to conduct the firing test. After thorough preparations, the unmanned fighter aircraft took off carrying two supersonic JET-230 missiles. From a range of over 120 kilometers, KIZILELMA successfully launched its missile, striking the target accurately. This achievement marks a critical step forward for Türkiye’s first unmanned fighter aircraft, showcasing its capability for critical air-to-ground missions.
BAYRAKTAR: “YET ANOTHER MILESTONE HAS BEEN COMPLETED”
Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman and CTO of Baykar, who oversaw the test, expressed his congratulations to the testing team, stating, “Yet another milestone has been completed. I wholeheartedly congratulate you, friends.”
INTEGRATION OF INDIGENOUS MUNITIONS GAINS MOMENTUM
The Bayraktar KIZILELMA has previously succeeded in firing tests with the GÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missile and munitions such as TOLUN, TEBER-82 KGK, and LGK-82. The recent successful strike with the JET-230 missile signifies that the integration of indigenous munitions is progressing rapidly, further enhancing the aircraft’s operational effectiveness.
KIZILELMA’S FIRST AUTONOMOUS CLOSE-FORMATION FLIGHT
On December 27, 2025, KIZILELMA’s third prototype, PT3, and fifth prototype, PT5, executed a coordinated close-formation flight using advanced autonomy algorithms developed by the Baykar team. This event marked a historical achievement in aviation, as it involved two unmanned fighter aircraft flying in formation autonomously.
A FIRST IN AVIATION HISTORY: AIR-TO-AIR STRIKE
The KIZILELMA made aviation history on November 29, 2025, during a test off the coast of Sinop, by successfully neutralizing a target aircraft using the GÖKDOĞAN missile with guidance from ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA Radar. This accomplishment positioned KIZILELMA as the world’s first unmanned fighter aircraft to engage and hit a jet-powered aerial target with a beyond-visual-range missile.
EXPORT CHAMPION
Baykar has maintained its leadership as the world’s largest exporter of unmanned aerial vehicles in 2025, achieving an impressive export volume of $2.2 billion. With 90% of its revenue originating from exports, the company has become a key driver of Türkiye’s high-technology export sector.
BAYKAR: THE WORLD’S LARGEST UAV COMPANY
Baykar has ranked among Türkiye’s top 10 exporters across all industries in 2023, 2024, and 2025, receiving the Champions of Export Award. It was recognized as the export leader in Türkiye’s defense and aerospace sector for multiple consecutive years, reflecting its significant contribution to the global UCAV market. Currently, Baykar has signed export contracts with 39 countries, including 36 for the Bayraktar TB2 and 16 for the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV.
