Thanks to the rapid steps taken one after another in the field of aviation by domestic defense industry companies, Turkey became the world’s top UAV-SIHA seller in 2022. The developments in the sector continue without a break. Finally, Bayraktar Kızılelma, a domestic unmanned fighter aircraft developed by Baykar, landed on the runway.
Bayraktar Kızılelma is on the runway: The first flight will be in 2022!
When we look at the first data shared for Bayraktar Kızılelma, we see that a very promising prototype emerges. This aircraft will bring with it the artificial intelligence features of TB2 and Akıncı, as well as some of the capabilities we saw in the F-16 and F-35.
It is planned that the first models to be included in the inventory will accelerate to subsonic, that is, 800+km. The version that hits the track today is one of them. In the next period, 2 different engine options will be added as transonic (1000+ km/h) and supersonic (1200+ km/h).
We built these engines! We visited TEI stand at Saha Expo!
TEI General Manager and Chairman of the Board Prof. Dr. We talked with Mahmut F. Akşit about TEI produced domestic engines and new technologies.
In addition, it will be able to land and take off on the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship, where the TB3s will also be used, that it will have the AESA radar used in the F-16s, and that it will have a low radar appearance by carrying ammunition in the fuselage like the F-35 (also thanks to the materials and paint used in its construction). Let’s say too.
Bayraktar KIZILELMA will be able to communicate with new generation warplanes (F-35 and MMU/TFX), unmanned aerial vehicles (such as TB2- Akıncı, Anka and AKSUNGUR) and intelligence units (AWACS aircraft). Therefore, he will be able to move and hit the targets they see as if he sees them himself.
Their primary mission will be air-to-land. Of course, it will also carry air-to-air ammunition. But it remains unclear whether the first version will do dog fights with F-16s. However, let me state that this is possible in the coming years.
On the engine side, it is known that Baykar has made various agreements with Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress (for AI-322F Turbofan Engine and AI-25TLT Turbofan Engine). Although the Ukraine-Russia war continues, we know that it has already delivered more than 20 engines and this process continues without any interruption.
This domestic unmanned fighter aircraft will appear with at least 3 prototypes with different capabilities, A, B and C, just like Akıncı. AI-25TLT (16.5 kN) and AI-322F (41 kN), which are AI-25 variants produced by Ivchenko, will be used in these vehicles.
It is stated that 4 prototypes will be produced in total. These will be 1 AI-25TLT Red Apple-A, 1 AI-322F Red Apple-B and 2 AI-322F Red Apple-C. In addition, there are some studies in the direction of returning to the domestic engine. The versions of the TEI-TF6000 turbofan engine produced by TEI with thrust power of 6,000 lbf (26.5 kN) and then 10,000 lbf (44.5 kN) are expected to be tested with Kızılelma.
The first flight date for Bayraktar Kızılelma is the end of 2022. It is said that MIUS, developed by TAI, will take off in February, right after Kızılelma. If the test processes are fast and positive, we can see both vehicles entering the inventory in 2023.
Bayraktar Kizil Apple features:
- Flight time/ Airtime: 5 hours
- Maximum take-off weight: 6 tons
- operational altitude: 35 thousand feet
- Mission radius: 500 NM (nautical miles) / 900+ km
- Cruising speed: Mach 0.6 (may increase to Mach 0.8+ and Mach 1.2+ in the future)
- Payload capacity: 1500 kg (with internal weapon stations)
- High maneuverability
- Automatic take-off and landing
- Low radar signature
- SATCOM communication
- Take off from short-runway aircraft carriers
- Compatible with AESA radar
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