Turkey’s Kizilelma Unmanned Fighter Locks Target F-16 at 30 Miles in Radar-Missile Test

Turkey’s first unmanned fighter aircraft, Bayraktar Kizilelma, carried out a combined radar and missile-integration trial with two Turkish F-16s, locking onto a target at 30 miles and scoring a virtual direct hit in a simulated Gökdoğan missile strike.

The 1-hour-45-minute flight from the Akinci Flight Training and Test Center reached an average altitude of 15,000 feet and pushed Kizilelma’s total test time beyond 55 hours. One F-16 flew in close formation to validate joint-flight behaviour, while the second served as the target aircraft.

Kizilelma detected and tracked the target F-16 using the Murad AESA radar developed by Aselsan. The aircraft then executed a simulated electronic firing with the TÜBİTAK SAGE-produced Gökdoğan beyond-visual-range missile mounted under its wing. Test reports indicate a direct virtual hit on the maneuvering target.

The flight also validated the data link between the aircraft, radar and missile. After locking onto the target, Kizilelma transmitted real-time position, velocity and target data from the Murad radar directly to the Gökdoğan missile, confirming the platform’s ability to support BVR engagements.

Three demanding trials were completed in one flight: formation operations with an F-16, aerodynamic and avionic compatibility with the Gökdoğan missile, and activation and performance testing of the Murad AESA radar under operational load.