Türkiye’s KIZILELMA UCAV achieves milestone with first armed test
KIZILELMA marks key step with first precision-guided weapon integration.
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The Turkish Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) has successfully completed its first armed flight test, a decisive step in the transition from a technology demonstrator to a fully operational combat system under the MIUS (National Unmanned Combat Aircraft System) program. The test, announced by manufacturer Baykar, involved a flight with the TOLUN precision-guided bomb developed by Aselsan, validating for the first time the integration of weaponry on the stealth drone.
According to official information, the KIZILELMA took off carrying two TOLUN bombs in a “munition-linked flight test” that was successfully completed, marking “another stage achieved” in the system’s development. The manufacturer emphasized that the aircraft will feature both internal and external weapon stations, enabling it to carry a wide range of missiles and bombs for air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.
The integration of weapons marks a key milestone in the evolution of KIZILELMA, conceived as a multirole system capable of conducting ground-attack operations, air defense, escort missions, close air support, SEAD/DEAD missions, and intelligence and reconnaissance operations. Unlike earlier generations of armed drones, the Turkish UCAV is designed to maneuver autonomously, operate in networked cooperation with manned fighters, and carry its own AESA radar — capabilities that conceptually bring it closer to next-generation unmanned combat aircraft currently under development in the United States, Europe, and China.
With a maximum takeoff weight of 5,500 kg, KIZILELMA can carry up to 1,500 kg of payload, reach speeds of up to 800 km/h (Mach 0.64), and remain airborne for up to five hours. It is powered by an AI-322F turbofan engine supplied by Ukraine’s Ivchenko-Progress, and its final configuration is expected to include internal weapon bays to maintain a low radar cross-section.
The TOLUN guided bomb, the focus of this first armed campaign, is a compact precision munition developed by Aselsan for striking ground targets. Weighing 139 kg and equipped with combined GPS/INS guidance and a circular error probable (CEP) of less than 8 meters, the munition offers a range of up to 55 nautical miles (over 100 km) and a warhead capable of penetrating up to one meter of reinforced concrete. Its modular design and use of the SADAK-4T multiple carriage system allow a single aircraft to carry up to four bombs per station, significantly increasing the ability to engage multiple targets simultaneously.
The combination of KIZILELMA’s autonomous capabilities with precision-guided munitions like TOLUN strengthens Turkey’s strategic objective of fielding an unmanned combat system with capabilities comparable to those of previous-generation manned fighters. Moreover, it represents a key step toward integrating the UCAV into joint operations alongside manned aircraft — a capability Ankara aims to develop as part of its strategy to achieve technological independence and enhance its aerial power projection.
With this first armed flight test successfully completed, the MIUS program enters a new phase focused on validating various types of weapons, conducting live-fire trials, and progressively expanding the system’s operational capabilities. Baykar and Turkish defense authorities have not disclosed a detailed timeline for the next stages but stressed that KIZILELMA continues to advance as planned and remains one of Turkey’s central efforts for the future of unmanned aerial combat.
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