Turkey successfully tested the Bayraktar KIZILELMA attack drone prototype

Влад Черевко - 25 May, 01:14 PM

The Turkish company Baykar has successfully tested the fourth prototype of the Bayraktar KIZILELMA attack drone. Baykar reported this on its X page. The flight took place at the Corlu air base, where the aircraft performed takeoff and aerodynamic maneuvers to test manual control systems.

It is previously known that the PT-4 is equipped with a Ukrainian AI-322F turbojet engine with an afterburner, developed by the state-owned enterprise "Ivchenko-Progress". This engine gives the aircraft the ability to reach supersonic speeds and demonstrate high maneuverability.

Baykar and Ivchenko-Progress signed an agreement to supply these engines, as well as their less powerful versions without an afterburner, back in November 2021 during the SAHA Expo.

It is expected that by 2026, the Turkish Navy will receive the first large deck-based drone, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, capable of carrying out combat missions from the universal landing ship TCG Anadolu.

Technical characteristics of KIZILELMA:

Turbojet engine
Take-off weight — up to 8.5 tons
Load capacity - up to 1.5 tons of weapons (guided missiles and bombs)
Automatic takeoff and landing
Control modes: line-of-sight or satellite navigation over the radio horizon
Cruising speed - Mach 0.6, maximum - Mach 0.9
Range — 926 km
Operating altitude — 7,600 m, maximum level — 13,700 m
Active phased array radar system for rapid target acquisition and detection.

KIZILELMA has been under development since 2021 and is funded by Baykar from its own funds. This drone is close to a light fighter in terms of capabilities and is capable of performing a wide range of combat missions, increasing the autonomy of the Turkish Air Force.