Baykar Teknoloji has managed to gain a place in both our country and the world press for the last 5 years, thanks to the UAVs, SİHAs and TİHAs it has developed and the successes of these aircraft on different fronts. At the same time, it was known that Baykar had been working on jet powered unmanned aerial vehicles for a long time. Finally, Bayraktar KIZILELMA (MIUS) emerged.
Last week, Selçuk Bayraktar – the man who whispers to drones, so to speak – shared his first photo post showing that the expected prototype of MİUS is no longer just an idea and has moved to the production line. Will Bayraktar KIZILELMA (MIUS) be able to meet expectations by replacing the F-16s and F-35s?
The national unmanned warplane is on the production line! Here are the features
Selçuk Bayraktar announced on social media that the unmanned warplane has entered the production line. Here are the MIUS features!
Bayraktar KIZILELMA features and expectations
- Flight time/ Airtime: 5 hours
- Maximum take-off weight: 6 tons
- Operational altitude: 35,000 feet
- Mission radius: 500 NM (nautical miles) / 900+ km
- Cruising speed: Mach 0.6 (may reach Mach 0.8+ and Mach 1.2+ in the future)
- Payload capacity: 1500 kg (with built-in weapon stations)
When we look at the first data shared for Bayraktar KIZILELMA, we see that a very promising prototype will appear before us. Because this aviator will bring with it some innovations that we saw in the F-16 and F-35, as well as the artificial intelligence features of TB2 and Akıncı. It will also have a high maneuverability compared to other UAVs. Of course, let’s point out that this does not mean that KIZILELMA can do dog fights with F-16s.
It is planned that the first models to be included in the inventory will accelerate to Subsonic, that is, 800+km. In the future, it is quite possible that transonic (1000+ km/h) and supersonic (1200+ km/h) models will appear. 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. However, this feature is expected to be used not against warplanes, but against UAV-SİHA-TİHA and helicopter-like aircraft.
On the engine side, it was known that Baykar made various agreements (for AI-322F Turbofan Engine and AI-25TLT Turbofan Engine) with Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress. But it is not yet certain whether Ukraine will be able to deliver on its possible promises after being attacked by Russia. Therefore, Baykar may knock on the door of TEI or other countries in the future.
However, the question of whether he can find what he is looking for whenever he wants remains unanswered for the time being. In addition, it is quite normal to experience more than one setback while achieving a first, to learn new things and develop a prototype. Therefore, we may see large stretches in project delivery dates. For this reason, the first flight (planned 2023) and delivery dates (planned 2025) may be delayed by a few years.
To put it briefly, Bayraktar KIZILELMA (MIUS) will be able to take off with F-16s until the MMU (National Combat Aircraft) is produced, and then with MMUs after it is produced. At times he will take over their costly operations. Sometimes he will go on individual secret intelligence missions. When deemed necessary, it will be able to destroy all kinds of targets with the wide variety and number of ammunition it can carry.
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