After historic test, KIZILELMA positions Türkiye for new era in air power

Türkiye's landmark beyond visual range air-to-air missile test with the Bayraktar KIZILELMA uncrewed fighter jet was hailed by domestic and international observers as more than a technological milestone. Defense analysts said the achievement marked a major step in the country's push for autonomous air combat capabilities, with wider implications for regional power balances. Bayraktar KIZILELMA, the country's national uncrewed fighter aircraft, made aviation history by becoming the first of its kind to successfully carry out a beyond visual range air-to-air missile strike, according to a statement from defense firm Baykar on Sunday. He said the achievement reflected Türkiye's long-term aerospace vision and signaled a new level of maturity in its domestic defense ecosystem, adding that the milestone showed 'we are now designing and producing an end-to-end national ecosystem of platforms, systems, and munitions.' The test, conducted over the Black Sea near the Sinop province, saw the aircraft track and destroy a fast-moving target jet with an indigenously developed Gökdoğan missile, fired under wing. 'FOR THE FUTURE OF OUR CHILDREN' Haluk Bayraktar, the company's CEO, described the event as a turning point: 'With a national aircraft, national radar, and national missile, we completed every link in the air-to-air engagement chain using fully domestic capabilities.' Mehmet Fatih Kacır, the industry and technology minister, echoed the sentiment, calling the success a global first and noting that Türkiye's national technology capacity had reached a level capable of 'rewriting the rules of air superiority.' Aselsan, one of the leading companies in the sector, stressed its contributions through various mission-critical systems, including radar seeker heads, national identification systems, and communication tools. Roketsan, another leading company in the sector, also hailed the test as an event that could 'reshape the rules of aerial combat.' The Turkish National Defense Ministry also hailed the Bayraktar KIZILELMA's achievement, making it the world's first uncrewed fighter aircraft to destroy a jet-powered aerial target using a beyond visual range air-to-air missile. The ministry said on Turkish social media platform NSosyal: 'As a nation of soldiers, we continue to lead in breakthroughs for the future of our children.' The post noted that the target aircraft was identified over the Black Sea airspace using the Murad AESA radar developed by Aselsan and destroyed with TUBITAK-SAGE's Gökdoğan missile, marking a first in global aviation history. Footage released by the ministry showed the moment KIZILELMA successfully struck the jet-powered target. The historic live fire test was personally observed in the air by Air Force Commander Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, Combat Air Forces Commander Gen. Rafet Dalkıran, Aselsan Director General Ahmet Akyol, and Baykar Chair Selçuk Bayraktar, who flew aboard five F-16 fighter jets that took off from Merzifon.