Baykar Tech Kızılelma News and Developments

@Combat-Master and I have agreed that this bad boi deserves a separate thread of its own.

Here's a starter:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1836437832048513366

View: https://x.com/Selcuk/status/1836437832048513366

From now on, please use only this thread for Kizilelma news; we're reserving the "Turkish UAV Developments & Fielding" thread for TB-2/3, Anka, Aksungur and Akinci since these drones are not analogous to turbofan powered Kizilelma or Anka-3 at all...

 

[snne]

the "Production Prototype" with the AI-322-30F engine just had its maiden flight

https://twitter.com/x/status/1838908667556511966

View: https://x.com/Selcuk/status/1838908667556511966

View: https://youtu.be/ZAYrv3rKeH0?feature=shared

Looks a lot more refined than previous prototypes.

 

[snne]

Looks like they dismantled the first prototype.

 

[Combat-Master]

Looks like they dismantled the first prototype.

View attachment 742151View attachment 742152

Yeah, that was the one that was on the TCG Anadolu being paraded around. Dismantled and returned back to Baykar. Though, if mothballed it served its purpose. I don't see any point of them carrying on with Kizilelma-A variant for an "Combat" UCAV.

 

[NMaude]

View attachment 742163
Yeah, that was the one that was on the TCG Anadolu being paraded around. Dismantled and returned back to Baykar. Though, if mothballed it served its purpose. I don't see any point of them carrying on with Kizilelma-A variant for an "Combat" UCAV.

That has a resemblance to a scaled down, pilotless version of Lockheed-Martin's original X-35 JSF concept.

 

[snne]

That has a resemblance to a scaled down, pilotless version of Lockheed-Martin's original X-35 JSF concept.

It's as large as an F-16, which in turn is slightly shorter than the F-35. But yes, capability-wise it is indeed more scaled down than a top of the line fighter.

 

[Combat-Master]

That has a resemblance to a scaled down, pilotless version of Lockheed-Martin's original X-35 JSF concept.

Yeah, you're right it does look like the LM JAST - wouldn't be surprised if they took inspiration from it.

 

[NMaude]

It's as large as an F-16, which in turn is slightly shorter than the F-35.

That's a bit bigger than I anticipated.

But yes, capability-wise it is indeed more scaled down than a top of the line fighter.

Not surprising.

Yeah, you're right it does look like the LM JAST - wouldn't be surprised if they took inspiration from it.
View attachment 742174

Yeah, this is what I meant.

 

[snne]

https://theaviationist.com/2024/10/01/production-prototype-kizilelma-ucav-maiden-flight/

 

[snne]

It appears the serial production process has begun and they're planning to produce 'more than' 10 aircraft this year.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1841565088483815772

View: https://x.com/ssysfakb/status/1841565088483815772

 

[Combat-Master]

Baykar Tech has shared some images of the AI and Control software;
Formation flight;




On one part of the presentation, a warning pops with the following;

"2 unidentified F-35s detected!"

Buttons (from left to right):
Apply Engagement | Track | Communicate

 

[snne]

Baykar Tech has shared some images of the AI and Control software;
Formation flight;
View attachment 745343
View attachment 745345
View attachment 745344

On one part of the presentation, a warning pops with the following;

"2 unidentified F-35s detected!"

Buttons (from left to right):
Apply Engagement | Track | Communicate
View attachment 745346

If we consider what needs to be done in order to achieve at least some autonomy, this is really some basic stuff yet, and is more like a simulation or a presentation than real hard- and soft-ware that is going to be placed in each aircraft.

Moreover, US and other allied airforces carefully avoid flying F-35s over or near Turkish territory so Baykar actually has no intel on its signatures (I mean, obviously TURAF has a great deal of intel on it due to non-negligible Turkish involvement in the program in the past but I doubt they share this kind of stuff much with Baykar...).

 

[snne]

Twin engined variant of Kizilelma is also in the works'
View attachment 683549

Update on the twin engined Kizilelma:

For the twin-engine Bayraktar Kızılelma, the single-engine platform will have to mature. If there is a demand from any customer after the maturation process, the twin-engine version will also be worked on.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1850975469446873483

View: https://x.com/ssysfakb/status/1850975469446873483