One of the biggest breakthroughs of the Turkish defense industry in the sky. Bayraktar KIZILELMA Unmanned Combat Aircraft, Baykar has successfully navigated yet another critical and challenging hurdle in its development process. Developed entirely with domestic resources by Baykar, our national pride, Baykar, faced off against the Turkish Air Force's striking force, the F-16 fighter jet, in a historic test flight over Çorlu, Tekirdağ. This encounter was not just a formation flight, but also a breathtaking demonstration showcasing the integrated operation of national radar and national ammunition. air-to-air combat simulation It became a scene.
Historic Test Passed Successfully: KIZILELMA Against F-16s!
On November 19, 2025, the Bayraktar KIZILELMA, which took off from the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Çorlu, Tekirdağ, underwent a challenging test in the sky. During the flight, which lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes at an altitude of about 15,000 feet, KIZILELMA was accompanied by two F-16 fighter jets belonging to the Turkish Air Force.
During this flight, KIZILELMA was in one of the F-16s. “"Loyal Wingman" While one F-16 was performing a perfect formation flight in accordance with the concept, the other F-16 was acting according to the scenario. “"enemy/target aircraft"” It assumed its role. With this test, KIZILELMA's total flight time exceeded 55 hours, and its ability to conduct joint operations with manned combat aircraft was proven once again.
National Radar System MURAD Takes the Stage: Detection from 30 Miles, Continuous Locking
The most striking moment of the test was the inscription carried on the nose of the KIZILELMA, developed by ASELSAN using national resources. MURAD AESA Radar‘It was KIZILELMA's performance. According to the scenario, KIZILELMA detected the approaching target F-16 aircraft thanks to its MURAD radar. 30 miles (approximately 48 kilometers) He managed to detect it from a distance.
The domestically produced unmanned combat aircraft not only detected the target but also locked onto and tracked a highly maneuverable F-16 fighter jet. This achievement showcased Türkiye's level of proficiency in AESA radar technology and its mastery in integrating this technology into unmanned platforms.
Direct Hit in Virtual Duel: GÖKDOĞAN Missile Shows No Mercy to Its Target
After locking onto the target, the second phase of the test began. KIZILELMA carried a TÜBİTAK SAGE-produced aircraft under its wings. GÖKDOĞAN Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVR) It carried out a simulated shot electronically.
In the simulation, which replicated a real-life conflict scenario, the virtual GÖKDOĞAN missile fired by KIZILELMA hit its F-16 target. perfectly accurate It neutralized the enemy. This result confirmed that KIZILELMA is not just a flight platform, but also a "forged" fighter capable of defending airspace and engaging in air-to-air combat.
The Unseen Hero: Data Link Technology Confirmed
The most critical yet unseen success of this historic test is... in communication infrastructure This happened. In beyond-visual-range air combat (BVR), it is vital for the missile to continuously receive data from the aircraft in order to find its target.
During the test, after locking onto the target F-16, the Bayraktar KIZILELMA transmitted the real-time target, position, and speed information received from the MURAD AESA radar to the GÖKDOĞAN missile on its wing. uninterrupted data link It managed to transmit the information seamlessly. This flawless digital communication between the aircraft, radar, and ammunition became one of the most important milestones demonstrating the level reached by the Turkish defense industry in network-centric warfare capabilities.
Keywords: Bayraktar KIZILELMA, F-16, GÖKDOĞAN, ASELSAN MURAD AESA, air-to-air missile, Baykar, Selçuk Bayraktar, unmanned combat aircraft, national technology, data link
