Second Prototype of Bayraktar 'Kizilelma' Jet-powered UAV Assembled, First Flight in 2023

Turkish firm Baykar has completed the assembly of second prototype of the Bayraktar Kizilelma jet combat drone, and announced that the drone will take to the skies for the first time next year.

“We said goodbye to Kizilelma, the 2nd production prototype, which we prepared for the TEKNOFEST KARADENİZ exhibition in Samsun,” Selcuk Bayraktar, chief technology officer of Turkish drone maker Baykal, tweeted   August 26.

Bayraktar Kizilelma supersonic stealth сarrier-capable UСAV. The aircraft was developed under the MIUS (Muharip Insansız Ucak Sistemi) project.

According the Bayraktar, the Kizilelma will have an operation ceiling of 12,000 m, a takeoff weight of 5.5 tons, a payload of 1.5 tons, and a load capacity of ammunition of 1 ton. The UCAV is touted to have a Max speed of 900km/hr and a cruising speed of 740km/hr. The aircraft has a range of 930km.

The drone achieves supersonic speed with the Ukrainian АІ-322F engine and the Turkish TEI TF-6000.

In November of 2021, BAYKAR had ordered АІ-322F and АІ-25TLT jet engines from the Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress state enterprise meant for the UCAV.