The Turkish defense company Baykar has announced the successful test of its new unmanned fighter Bayraktar Kızılelma, which for the first time managed to shoot down an aircraft using air-to-air missiles-an achievement the manufacturer describes as an unprecedented breakthrough.

According to the company’s statement, the test took place at a range near Sinop, where engineers launched a high-speed jet-powered target aircraft. The target was detected and tracked by the ASELSAN MURAD AESA radar integrated into Kızılelma. Once the radar locked on, the drone fired a GÖKDOĞAN BVR air-to-air missile from its wing.

Baykar emphasized that most strike-oriented unmanned systems worldwide are built primarily for engaging ground targets. Kızılelma, by contrast, is the first unmanned platform to demonstrate the ability to reliably hit aerial targets. During the trials, the drone was accompanied by five F-16 fighter jets and an Akıncı UAV.

A key feature highlighted by the manufacturer is the drone’s capacity to detect hostile aircraft at long distances using its advanced onboard sensors. Its «see without being seen, strike without being struck» concept is presented as a defining capability that sets Kızılelma apart from other systems in its class.

Baykar also noted that it is currently the world’s largest producer of unmanned aerial vehicles, exporting its systems to 37 countries.