ISTANBUL/ANKARA: Türkiye’s first uncrewed fighter jet, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, has made aviation history by becoming the world’s first UAV to successfully fire a beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air missile at a jet-powered aerial target, Turkish defense firm Baykar announced on Sunday.
During the test off the coast of Sinop, KIZILELMA launched the locally manufactured GOKDOGAN air-to-air missile, hitting a high-speed jet target with pinpoint accuracy. The missile was released from under the UAV’s wing after the target aircraft was detected and tracked using ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar, marking the first time a Turkish-made aircraft fired a domestically developed missile guided by a national radar system, reports Turkish news agency Anadolu.
Baykar said the successful engagement confirms KIZILELMA as the first and only uncrewed combat platform worldwide with verified air-to-air combat capability.
🗣️ ‘Today, we have opened the doors to a new era in aviation history!’, says Baykar Chairman and CTO Selcuk Bayraktar
💢 Turkish uncrewed fighter jet KIZILELMA becomes world’s 1st to fire air-to-air missile at jet-powered target
🔹 Bayraktar KIZILELMA hits jet-powered aircraft… pic.twitter.com/isRWXb2SVh
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 30, 2025
The test also included five F-16 jets from Merzifon Air Base flying in formation with KIZILELMA in a joint crewed-uncrewed mission, showcasing future air combat concepts. A Bayraktar AKINCI UAV recorded the event from the air.
Featuring a low radar cross-section and advanced sensors, KIZILELMA can detect enemy aircraft at long ranges while remaining undetected. The platform integrates cutting-edge systems including the MURAD AESA radar and TOYGUN targeting system, and is capable of deploying a range of domestically produced munitions.
KIZILELMA previously achieved direct hits with TOLUN and TEBER-82 precision munitions, and the latest BVR interception underscores its dual air-to-air and air-to-ground operational capability—further anchoring its role in Türkiye’s evolving defense strategy.
Baykar, which has self-financed all UAV projects since 2003, reported $1.8 billion in export revenue in both 2023 and 2024. Its Bayraktar TB2 has been exported to 36 countries, while the AKINCI UAV has reached 16 countries. The company remains Türkiye’s top defense and aerospace exporter for the fourth consecutive year.
