Baykar has conducted a test flight of its Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) integrated with Aselsan’s KARAT infrared search and track (IRST) system, marking a further step in the platform’s sensor fusion and low-observable combat capability development. The Kızılelma is a jet-powered, low-observable, carrier-capable unmanned multirole fighter currently under development by Turkish manufacturer Baykar. Designed with artificial intelligence-enabled mission systems, the aircraft supports autonomous taxi, take-off, landing, and flight operations. The baseline Kızılelma-A variant is subsonic, while follow-on variants, including Kızılelma-B and the twin-engine Kızılelma-C, are expected to achieve supersonic performance.The production prototype is expected to field a comprehensive sensor suite, including the Aselsan MURAD active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, the KARAT-100 IRST system, and the TOYGUN-100 electro-optical targeting system (EOTS). Additional survivability systems include a distributed aperture system (DAS) and an infrared-based missile approach warning system (MAWS), enhancing situational awareness and threat detection.
The KARAT IRST operates passively in the long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectrum, enabling the detection and tracking of airborne targets based on thermal signatures without emitting radio frequency signals. This capability is particularly relevant for engagements against low-observable aircraft, allowing the Kızılelma to maintain stealth while acquiring targets. The system supports single and multiple target tracking, wide-area scanning, and both narrow and wide fields of view. The KARAT system features a 640×512 resolution detector with a 15 µm pixel pitch, operating in the LWIR band. It provides adjustable scan volumes with a full-area scan time of under 30 seconds. The system offers digital video output, advanced image processing, and angular position data for detected targets, alongside passive range estimation capabilities. The unit weighs less than 50 kg and is designed to operate across a wide temperature range in accordance with military standards.
The Bayraktar Kızılelma (English: Red Apple) is a single-engine, stealth, carrier-capable, jet-powered, artificial intelligence capable unmanned multirole fighter, currently in development by Turkish defense company Baykar. The aircraft features a low radar cross-section (RCS) airframe with internal weapons bays intended to preserve stealth characteristics in contested environments. Its configuration incorporates a canard-delta layout, balancing maneuverability with reduced observability. Yaw control is provided by twin vertical stabilizers, while aerodynamic optimization supports both short-runway and carrier-based operations. Initial Kızılelma prototypes are powered by Ukrainian-supplied AI-25TLT turbofan engines, enabling subsonic flight. Future variants are expected to incorporate the more powerful AI-322F turbofan, supporting supersonic performance. The platform has a reported maximum take-off weight of approximately 6,000 kg, with a payload capacity of up to 1,500 kg and an operational ceiling of around 35,000 ft.
The Kızılelma has been designed to operate from short-deck aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships without the need for catapult launch systems. This includes compatibility with platforms such as Turkey’s TCG Anadolu, reflecting a concept of operations focused on distributed maritime airpower and expeditionary deployment. With the integration of advanced sensors such as KARAT, the Kızılelma programme highlights Turkey’s efforts to field an AI-enabled unmanned fighter capable of beyond-visual-range (BVR) engagements and autonomous mission execution. The combination of passive sensing, low observability, and carrier operability positions the platform as a significant development in next-generation unmanned combat aviation.
