Turkey Develops New Fighter Jet with Indigenous Technology

Turkey has taken a major leap in defense technology. Baykar, the manufacturer of Bayraktar drones, has now developed its first unmanned fighter jet, Kizilelma. Built entirely with indigenous Turkish technology, the jet successfully completed its aerodynamic system identification test, a key part of its test schedule.

Turkey’s drones have already been supplied to Pakistan and Bangladesh. The deployment of Bangladeshi-operated drones near the Indian border has raised strategic concerns for India. With Turkey strengthening ties with countries that have an adversarial stance towards India, New Delhi is simultaneously accelerating its own drone aircraft development programs.

The newly developed Kizilelma comes with advanced capabilities:
A powerful engine enabling near-supersonic flight.
Ability to perform high-speed aerial maneuvers.
Equipped with AESA radar for enhanced tracking and targeting.
AI-supported systems allow autonomous takeoff and landing.
Stealth design helps the jet evade radar detection.

In 2023, Baykar recorded 1.8 billion USD in export revenue, becoming the world's largest UAV exporter.
Its Bayraktar TB2 UCAV was purchased by 34 countries, and the Akıncı UCAV by 11 countries.
This week, Baykar signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Leonardo, set to strengthen its presence in the European defense market.