Air system · Stealth UCAV
Bayraktar Kızılelma
Carrier-Capable Strike / Air Superiority / Deep Penetration
Also known as: Kızılelma / Red Apple UCAV / Bayraktar jet drone / Turkish stealth UCAV
Bayraktar Kızılelma overview
The Bayraktar Kızılelma (Turkish: 'Red Apple' — the mythical symbol of Turkish national ambition) is Baykar Defense's most ambitious project to date: a jet-powered, carrier-capable stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicle that represents Turkey's entry into the exclusive club of nations fielding advanced UCAV systems. Unveiled at the 2022 Teknofest aviation festival and completing its maiden flight on December 14, 2022, the Kızılelma features a distinctive blended delta-wing and canard configuration designed for low radar observability, high maneuverability, and minimal drag at transonic speeds approaching Mach 0.9. The aircraft is powered by a single AI-25TLT turbofan engine and is designed to operate from both conventional airbases and the flight decks of Turkish amphibious assault ships — specifically TCG Anadolu and its sisterships — enabling a sovereign carrier-strike capability without the expense of a conventional aircraft carrier.
The Kızılelma carries an internal weapons bay capable of housing Roketsan SOM cruise missiles or precision-guided bombs, supplemented by external hardpoints for additional ordnance including MAM-L smart micro munitions, HGK GPS/INS guidance kits, and TEBER laser guidance pods. In the operational concept envisioned by Baykar and the Turkish Armed Forces, Kızılelma would operate alongside crewed fighter jets as a loyal wingman platform, conducting deep-penetration strikes, SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) missions, and anti-ship attacks with a reduced electronic signature. With Turkey's successful combat track record with the TB2 in Libya, Syria, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine, NATO allies and adversaries alike have taken careful notice of Baykar's rapid development trajectory. The Kızılelma represents a qualitative leap that, if fully fielded, could fundamentally alter regional air power dynamics in the Mediterranean and Black Sea theaters.
Armament
Internal bay: 2× Roketsan SOM cruise missiles or precision bombs; external hardpoints: up to 1,000 kg additional ordnance including MAM-L, HGK, TEBER smart kits
Development and operational timeline
- Baykar officially announces Kızılelma program; design parameters revealed — jet-powered, carrier-capable, stealthy UCAV
- Full-scale mockup unveiled at Teknofest Istanbul; delta-canard planform confirmed
- TCG Anadolu (L400) amphibious assault ship commissioned; designated primary Kızılelma carrier platform
- AI-25TLT turbofan engine secured from Ivchenko-Progress (Ukraine); engine integration begins despite Russia-Ukraine tensions
- Ground taxi trials begin at Çorlu airbase; full-scale prototype completes initial systems checks
- Maiden flight of Kızılelma prototype — December 14, 2022; subsonic test profile completed successfully
- Second flight campaign begins; weapons bay doors, landing gear, and avionics evaluated over 20+ sorties
- Kızılelma demonstrated at Teknofest Black Sea; first public airshow flight draws international defense attaché attention
- Deck landing trials conducted aboard TCG Anadolu; arrested landing and catapult-free STOL takeoff validated
- First live weapons release — MAM-L precision munition fired from internal bay against land target
- Turkish Air Force approves initial procurement order; Kızılelma enters low-rate initial production
- Upgraded domestic engine variant (TEI TF6000) integration announced — ending dependence on Ukrainian AI-25TLT