- Baykar’s KIZILELMA UCAV conducted the first recorded shoot-down of a jet-powered target using a radar-guided beyond-visual-range missile.
- The unmanned aircraft used ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar to detect the target and launched a TÜBİTAK SAGE GÖKDOĞAN missile that scored a direct hit.
Baykar’s KIZILELMA unmanned combat aircraft has achieved a breakthrough moment in aviation, completing the world’s first confirmed shoot-down of a jet-powered target using a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile.
The test, conducted over Sinop, took place before the UCAV has even entered operational service.
According to the company, KIZILELMA used ASELSAN’s MURAD active electronically scanned array radar to detect and track the target aircraft. It then launched a TÜBİTAK SAGE Gokdogan beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile from its under-wing hardpoint.
Company officials say the missile struck the target directly, demonstrating a capability that until now existed only in manned fighter operations.
Baykar released video showing KIZILELMA flying in formation with five Turkish Air Force F-16s and an AKINCI unmanned combat aircraft. The coordinated mission validated manned–unmanned teaming concepts that Turkey has been developing across multiple platforms.
In a statement, Baykar Chairman of the Board and Chief Technology Officer Selçuk Bayraktar said, “Today, we opened the door to a new era in aviation history.” He added, “For the first time ever, an unmanned combat aircraft successfully fired a radar-guided air-to-air missile and hit its target with perfect accuracy. Türkiye is the first country in the world to accomplish this.”
As noted by the company, the successful launch confirms KIZILELMA’s readiness for air-to-air combat roles, including missions requiring long-range detection, tracking, and engagement. The UCAV is designed to operate with a low radar signature, internal weapon bays, and advanced autonomy functions.
The aircraft, manufactured by Baykar and intended for use by the Turkish Armed Forces, has been under development as part of a broader national effort to expand Türkiye’s next-generation aerial capabilities. KIZILELMA is built to perform fighter-like missions such as beyond-visual-range engagements, network-centric operations, and coordinated flight with manned aircraft.
The TÜBİTAK SAGE GÖKDOĞAN missile, used in this test, is a radar-guided air-to-air weapon designed to intercept fast-moving aerial targets at extended ranges. Its integration on an unmanned platform adds a new dimension to Turkey’s air-combat framework, allowing UCAVs to conduct missions traditionally carried out by piloted aircraft.
KIZILELMA’s flight with five F-16s and an AKINCI UCAV further demonstrated that the platform can operate as part of a networked formation, a capability central to future airpower concepts. As the company notes, this manned–unmanned teaming feature will be critical for missions involving high-threat airspace where attrition tolerance and tactical flexibility matter.
Although the aircraft has not yet entered the inventory, the test indicates that Turkey intends to position KIZILELMA as a core element of its future air-combat doctrine. Its ability to perform long-range engagements could expand the country’s options for air defense, border security, and regional deterrence missions.