Turkish KIZILELMA outshines U.S. MQ‑28 in air-to-air missile test debate

A recent U.S. Boeing MQ‑28 Ghost Bat air‑to‑air missile test has reignited global debate after Türkiye's KIZILELMA became the first unmanned combat aircraft to detect a target with its own radar and successfully destroy it on camera. KIZILELMA's test, using its onboard AESA radar and a domestically produced air‑to‑air missile, was fully recorded and publicly released—drawing major international attention. Days later, Boeing announced that the MQ‑28 had launched an AIM‑120 AMRAAM missile and allegedly hit its target. But unlike KIZILELMA, the MQ‑28 did not detect the target itself; the location was transmitted by an accompanying airborne early‑warning aircraft. Moreover, the U.S. test shared no footage of the impact, leaving the claimed hit unverified. The discrepancy sparked widespread discussion, especially after Boeing suggested it had achieved a 'first,' while many users pointed out that Türkiye had already demonstrated this capability. Indeed, Türkiye became the first country whose unmanned combat aircraft independently detected a target with its own radar and downed it with an air‑to‑air missile. Boeing had long claimed the MQ‑28 would be the first UAV to achieve such a strike, but Baykar's KIZILELMA achieved it earlier, confirming its status as the first UCAV with this capability. Türkiye previously transformed the global use of UAVs during operations in Syria, where Turkish drones were labeled 'game changers.' Ankara now appears poised for another breakthrough. While the U.S. and others emphasize manned‑unmanned teaming concepts, KIZILELMA distinguishes itself with advanced sensors, systems, and weapons that enable it to perform air‑to‑air missions autonomously, without a human-piloted companion aircraft.