Combat drone Kizilelma: Baykar hits naval target with supersonic Jet-230 missile at over 120 kilometres

With the Bayraktar Kizilelma, Turkish defence company Baykar has reached another milestone: in a flight test, the combat drone, an unmanned combat aircraft, fired Roketsan's supersonic Jet-230 air-to-surface missile for the first time. It hit the naval target precisely from more than 120 kilometres.

The test took place at the 5th Main Jet Base in Merzifon, Türkiye. The S2 pre-series aircraft flew, having previously been transferred there from Baykar's Çorlu test centre. Several preparatory and test flights were followed by take-off with two JET-230 guided missiles underwing – and the successful live firing.

Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Baykar, personally led the test. His comment:

Another milestone has been reached— Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Baykar

Turkish guided weapons: integration continues

With the successful Jet-230 test, Baykar is continuing the consistent integration of domestic precision weapons. The Kizilelma had already successfully tested the Gökdogan air-to-air missile and the Tolun, Teber-82 KGK and LGK-82 precision weapons. The new capability broadens the mission spectrum of the unmanned combat aircraft, above all for long-range precision strikes against ground targets.

Combat drone with a string of firsts

The Kizilelma had already drawn international attention in late 2025. According to Baykar, in November it became the world's first unmanned combat aircraft to shoot down a jet-powered aerial target with a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. The target was acquired by Aselsan's Murad AESA radar and engaged with a Gökdogan missile.

A few weeks later came the next first: for the first time, two Kizilelma prototypes flew autonomously in formation. AI-supported swarm algorithms kept both systems in close formation without human control – a further step towards future networked air combat systems.

Role in Türkiye's future air warfare

The Bayraktar Kizilelma is regarded as one of Türkiye's most ambitious aviation programmes. The unmanned combat aircraft is designed for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions as well as for operations in the networked battlespace. In future, the platform is to operate alongside crewed combat aircraft, among other roles, and be deployed from aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ships.

Baykar is also expanding its international market position. By its own account, it is the world's largest exporter of unmanned aerial vehicles; in 2025, it says it generated 2.2 billion US dollars (around 1.93 billion euros) in export revenue. Around 90 per cent of its revenue now comes from exports.

Baykar says it has signed export contracts with 39 countries in total for the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci combat drones. The Kizilelma, by contrast, is still in the testing phase.