Banished from the F-35 program in 2019 for its decision to acquire Russian technology, Turkey
was left with an aging fleet and zero access to the coveted 5th-generation fighter technology.
However, the authorities were not deterred and focused on elevating
their own advanced fighter technology, one that would be completely unmanned.
Recently, Turkish engineers unveiled a groundbreaking creation that had been
in development for decades: the Baykar Bayraktar Kizilelma drone.
A video showcasing the impressive technology was posted on social media,
and it has the potential to shake up the entire military landscape.
Turkish analysts even claim that the Kizilelma drone has
the ability to outperform the American F-35 Lighting II in several scenarios.
It is a massive leap forward for the Turkish military,
and the news will likely ruffle a few feathers among American regional interests.
As the Kizilelma takes to the skies,
the world is holding its breath to see if the Turkish engineers’ claims are valid and
if the new drone will actually be able to give the F-35 a run for its money...
A 20-Year Dream
In the summer of 2021, the Turkish defense firm Baykar unveiled a private project it had been
working on for over a decade: the Kizilelma unmanned fighter, also known as Red Apple.
Not a year later, the aircraft was spotted on the assembly line.
The company soon conducted the first engine integration test for
the unmanned jet as well as a “taxi test” at slow speed and a roll test at takeoff.
On December 3, Kizilelma performed a jump test in which it lifted its
landing gear off the runway for a few seconds, but it didn’t properly fly.
However, the jet went from prototype to maiden flight within ten months.
As announced by the technology chief at Baykar, Selcuk Bayraktar:
(QUOTE) “Our 20-year dream in our national drone adventure has come true today.”
In a video published on Twitter of Kizilelma's first flight,
the aircraft can be seen taking off from Corlu Airport, 80 to 85 kilometers west of Istanbul.
It is said that the aircraft flew for 18 minutes and returned to the same airbase.
As the aircraft successfully conducted its first test flight on December 14, the highly
ambitious program advanced to a new stage. Not long after, the indigenous design passed the
system identification test, and it is expected to become the backbone of the Turkish Navy.
In the words of Bayraktar: (QUOTE) “Our country has stepped into the domain of
unmanned fighter aircraft, which is ushering the future of air warfare.”
The Drone of the Future
Fully embracing the concept of unmanned aircraft as the future of combat aviation,
the Kizilelma promises to revolutionize the industry while providing Turkey with
a formidable and indigenous tool to face the military challenges of modern warfare.
The groundbreaking drone is a single-engine, low-observable, carrier-capable, jet-powered
unmanned combat aerial vehicle developed as part of Project MIUS. The aircraft is venturing
into uncharted territories for Turkish aviation development, as its ambitious
design allows for a sweeping configuration and blistering performance without an active pilot.
The first version, the Kizilelma-A, is a subsonic iteration anticipated to fly for approximately
five hours and travel at speeds of up to 800 kilometers per hour or a speed of Mach 0.64.
With a maximum take-off weight of six tons,
the drone is planned to have a 1,500-kilogram payload capacity.
The Kizilelma-B and Kizilelma-C are expected to feature a powerful
dual-engine configuration that will allow them to reach supersonic speeds enhanced
by their sleek and futuristic supersonic-capable airframes.
As a cutting-edge and versatile platform, the Kizilelma boasts a state-of-the-art autonomous
takeoff and landing system, a remarkably low radar cross-section, exceptional maneuverability,
and both line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight control. It also has an impressive maximum takeoff
weight of 6,000 kilograms and a staggering service ceiling of over 35,000 feet.
Built to thrive as a seaborne platform, the Kizilelma is designed to take off and
land on an amphibious assault ship without needing a catapult system,
making it the ultimate solution in versatility and ease of use.
Its advanced active electronically scanned array or AESA radar differs
from traditional systems in that it uses many small, electronically controlled transmitting
and receiving elements that allow for more agility and precision in detecting and tracking targets.
Moreover, its unique wing configuration and coupled-canard controls increase the platform’s
maneuverability and better control of the main wing airflow. Meanwhile, its advanced avionics
and radar provide the remote crew with high situational awareness and navigational prowess.
Seaborne Striker
A powerful newfangled combat drone such as the Kizilelma needs a formidable, world-class warship
capable of supporting its seaborne operation. That role is fulfilled by the TCG Anadolu,
a multi-purpose amphibious assault ship of the Turkish Navy that was launched in 2019.
The vessel is designed to serve as a platform for a wide range of missions,
including amphibious operations, special operations, humanitarian
aid and disaster relief, and counter-terrorism operations.
Moreover, the massive craft has a displacement of around
27,000 tons and a length of approximately 231 meters, making it one of the largest
warships in the Turkish Navy and one of the most technologically advanced warships.
The ship is also equipped with a 58,600 square feet flight deck
and a 10,700 square feet aviation hangar that was
initially included to support helicopters and vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.
The Anadolu’s modest but critical carrier capabilities will now become imperative for
the Kizilelma and its promised seaborne role. Boasting a hybrid propulsion system, which
combines gas turbines, electric motors, and modern amphibious assault capabilities, the Kizilelma
will be supported by one of the most potent and advanced warships in the Turkish Navy.
Aviation Revolution
Kizilelma is believed to be a fifth-generation fighter,
comparable to the American F-35 but piloted remotely. At least, that is what the Chief
Technical Officer stated when he claimed the Turkish drone would outperform the F-35,
adding that his unmanned supersonic fighter will be a challenge to fifth-generation vehicles.
The statement was published mere days after the drone’s debut, but analysts sustain that
the claim was symbolic rather than literal. In fact, Turkey was an early participant in the
F-35 program, and the country even contributed financially to the aircraft’s development.
The Turkish military was to purchase a hundred F-35A models,
but when Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 air defense system,
the US military grew uneasy and expelled Turkey from the program in 2019.
Regardless, Bayraktar declared: (QUOTE) “‎We plan to produce a
supersonic version of an unmanned fighter. Kizilelma will revolutionize aviation;
it can be used in aerial combat against classic combat aircraft.”
The manufacturer maintains that the unmanned fighter jet is expected to
execute a wide range of military operations, from close air support and missile offensives
to suppression and destruction of enemy air defenses -all of which the
F-35 successfully covers- in addition to several multirole capabilities. Moreover,
the F-35 can fly more considerable distances in a single stretch, unlike the unmanned aircraft.
Even so, the CTO emphatically added: (QUOTE) “Perhaps, after the drone’s first flight,
it would be wrong to compare it with aircraft used in many countries,
but when it is fully ready, it will surpass the same F-35 in several respects.”
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