Quantcast

Turkey advances development of first unmanned fighter jet

DOT probe seeks to determine if frequent flyer programs are fair to travelers
American Airlines flight diverted after passenger starts vaping
Russian Airline Wants $100 Million From Canada for Seizing Its Giant Cargo Plane
Airline CEO wants airports to cap passengers at 2 alcoholic drinks to limit on-board disruptions
Regulator cuts Malaysia Airlines' air operator certificate duration after probe
United Airlines flight attendants are prepared to strike. Here's why it's still unlikely.
2 workers killed, 1 injured in tire explosion at a Delta Air Lines shop in Atlanta
Emirates Will Buy 5 Airbus A380s From Lessor For $200 Million
Delta Air Lines named official airline of the WNBA
Pair Of C-Suite Officials Depart Wheels Up
LAX Receives Final Cars for People Mover Train
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger clears Justice Department hurdle, now faces DOT
Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject new contract, union says there's 'more work to do'
Elliott Investment To Push For 10 New Boardroom Directors At Southwest Airlines
Alaska Air Backs JetZero Blended-Wing Design
AI in Aviation Line Maintenance: A Strategic Response to Delays, Satisfaction, and Staffing Challenges
Air taxi service plans for 2026 Los Angeles launch at USC, SoFi and LAX
VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap
Air Canada Blames Paris Olympics On Decreased Profits
Delta passengers sue airline over refund refusals after CrowdStrike meltdown
Microsoft fires back at Delta after massive outage, says airline declined ‘repeated’ offers for help
Korean Air Confirms A Spacious Lounge Is Coming To The New Terminal One at New York JFK
VAS Aero Services to Acquire an Additional 17 Airbus A320 Airframes, Bringing to 23 the Total Number of A320s Slated for Teardown and Harvested Parts Redistribution
Delta CEO says CrowdStrike-Microsoft outage cost the airline $500 million
Boeing Reports $16.9 Billion In Revenue For 2nd Quarter With 5,400 Commercial Aircraft Backlog
United Airlines says flight attendant in Terrell Davis incident is no longer employed and NFL legend’s ‘no fly’ ban is lifted | CNN
Nepal Plane Crash Kills 18 After Takeoff - Airline Ratings
Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating | CNN Business
CrowdStrike Outage Caused 10% Spike in Air Charter
Aircraft Engine Maintenance and Repair to Peak in 2026, Worsening Capacity Shortage for Commercial Aviation, Says Bain & Company
Turkey advances development of first unmanned fighter jet
Policy
Webp received 9799886470040740
Haluk Bayraktar CEO of Baykar Technologies | Wikipedia

Baykar Technologies is advancing in the development of Turkey's first unmanned fighter jet, the Bayraktar KIZILELMA. This aircraft marks a significant step for Turkey's armed forces, which already operate one of the largest fleets of unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) globally.

The project is led by Baykar, a prominent Turkish technology company specializing in defense. The design aims to combine aerodynamic efficiency with stealth features while allowing for flexible weaponry and airframe durability. "The emerging unmanned military platforms, smart systems and munitions manufactured by Turkey have become popular in the international defence market," reports SETA.

The KIZILELMA was designed to operate both from land and ships. It resembles other fifth-generation stealth fighters like China's Chengdu J-20 due to its low-observable airframe. The aircraft's maiden flight occurred in December 2022, with further testing at Akinci Flight Training and Test Center in January 2025 indicating progress towards production readiness.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Unmanned fighter jets like the KIZILELMA offer cost-effective solutions compared to manned jets, aligning with global trends toward expanding UCAV capabilities. As per baykartech.com, the second test flight on January 18th suggests advancement toward serial manufacturing.

The KIZILELMA is expected to enter service in 2025, potentially preceding Turkey's TAI TF KAAN stealth fighter into operational use. The design will support missions ranging from air superiority to close air support and intelligence gathering. Future developments may include advanced AI for autonomous decision-making.

In terms of technical specifications, the KIZILELMA boasts a maximum speed of 680 mph and can operate at altitudes up to 45,000 feet. Its avionics suite includes a national AESA radar among other systems for comprehensive threat detection and targeting capabilities.

Turkey’s pursuit of domestic weapons systems like the KIZILELMA reflects its strategic goals for self-reliance in defense technologies while maintaining unique equipment tailored for its armed forces. Despite challenges such as developing powerful engines akin to those used by Western manufacturers, Baykar continues refining the aircraft’s stealth attributes.

With ongoing development and testing phases showing promise, analysts are closely watching whether Turkey will indeed bring this UCAV into active service ahead of competitors.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

United Airlines is set to expand its Premium Plus cabin in response to increasing demand for premium economy seats.

Jul 19, 2025

Emirates, the leading operator of Airbus A380 superjumbo jets, continues to find success with this aircraft as a flagship of its fleet.

Jul 19, 2025

An Antonov An-124 aircraft, owned by Antonov Airlines, has departed from Kyiv, Ukraine, after being grounded for over three years.

Jul 19, 2025

An Air China Airbus A350 and an SF Airlines Boeing 767-300ER were involved in a near-miss incident over Russian airspace.

Jul 19, 2025

Airbus is set to start equipping fuselages for its A321 aircraft in China.

Jul 19, 2025

For over five decades, the Boeing 747 has captured the attention of aviation enthusiasts and professionals.

Jul 19, 2025