Turkey’s first unmanned fighter aircraft, Bayraktar KIZILELMA, has made aviation history by becoming the first drone in the world to successfully fire a long-range air-to-air missile at a jet aircraft during a test off the coast of Sinop.
According to a statement from the Turkish defense company Baykar on Sunday, KIZILELMA launched the domestically-produced GOKDOGAN air-to-air missile, striking a high-speed jet target with remarkable accuracy. The missile was fired from beneath the UCAV’s wing after the target was detected and tracked using ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar.
This marks the first time in Turkish aviation history that a national aircraft has fired an indigenously-produced, radar-guided air-to-air missile at an aerial target—powered entirely by Turkish radar technology.
The successful engagement positions KIZILELMA as the world’s first and only unmanned platform with verified air-to-air combat capability.
The test also involved five F-16 fighter jets from Merzifon Air Base, which conducted formation flights with KIZILELMA in a joint manned–unmanned operation—demonstrating advanced concepts of future air combat.
A Bayraktar AKINCI drone accompanied the mission and recorded the event from the air. KIZILELMA’s low radar cross-section and advanced sensors allow it to detect enemy aircraft from long distances without being detected itself. The platform integrates cutting-edge Turkish technology such as the MURAD AESA radar and TOYGUN targeting system, and can deploy a wide range of domestically-produced munitions.
In previous tests, KIZILELMA achieved direct hits with TOLUN and TEBER-82 munitions. This latest air-to-air strike further proves its operational capability for both air-to-ground and air-to-air missions, strengthening its role in Turkey’s defense strategy.
Baykar, which has self-funded its UAV projects since 2003, has become a global leader in drone exports. The company generated $1.8 billion in export revenue in 2023 and repeated the figure in 2024, with 90% of its total income coming from exports.
Baykar has signed export agreements for its Bayraktar TB2 with 36 countries and for Bayraktar AKINCI with 16 countries, remaining Turkey’s top defense and aerospace exporter for the last four years.
