Mis-summer 2025, Turkish company Baykar Technologies officially announced the start of serial production of its jet-powered combat UAV Kizilelma, which is likely to be equipped with a Ukrainian-made engine. The first deliveries to the Turkish Armed Forces are scheduled for 2026.
Construction of the sixth prototype of Kizilelma is currently nearing completion, according to Defense Industry Europe, citing Baykar's CTO and co-owner Selçuk Bayraktar.
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He also stated that Kizilelma is the first combat aircraft of its class to enter serial production, claiming Turkey achieved this earlier than the United States and Israel.
Kizilelma was developed under the MIUS (Muharip İnsansız Uçak Sistemi) program, which began in the 2010s.
It is still unclear whether the serial-production Kizilelma drones will be equipped with AI-322F jet engines produced by Ukraine's Ivchenko-Progress, though it is known that this engine powered the fourth prototype. Earlier versions were equipped with the AI-25TLT engine, also from Ukraine. Other engine configurations were also being considered.
It is worth noting that Baykar plans to manufacture the Kizilelma UCAV in Ukraine as well, at a new factory whose construction was expected to be completed in January 2025.
A key feature of Kizilelma is its ability to take off from aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, such as the TCG Anadolu (L-400). The exact set of onboard weapons is not yet disclosed, but it is confirmed that the drone will be fitted with both short- and medium-range air-to-air missiles.
It is also expected to carry Roketsan's Cirit missiles, a Turkish counterpart to the American APKWS, making Kizilelma suitable for intercepting Shahed type UAV.
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