Bayraktar KIZILELMA Successfully Completes First Supersonic JET-230 Missile Test
Bayraktar KIZILELMA, Turkey’s pioneering unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), has successfully completed its first live-fire test using a supersonic air-to-ground missile. Conducted on July 11, 2026, at the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon, the test featured the series-production model S2, which accurately struck a naval target from a range exceeding 120 kilometers. By integrating the domestically developed Roketsan JET-230 supersonic missile, the KIZILELMA platform has significantly enhanced its operational lethality and strategic deterrence capabilities within modern combat theaters.
- The Bayraktar KIZILELMA S2 model successfully executed its first live-fire trial with the Roketsan JET-230 supersonic missile.
- The unmanned platform demonstrated precision engagement capabilities by hitting a maritime target from a distance greater than 120 kilometers.
- This achievement marks a significant expansion of the UCAV’s operational compatibility with high-speed, long-range precision munitions.
- Baykar continues to lead the global defense sector with its self-funded research and development initiatives.
The Integration of Advanced Munitions Progresses Rapidly
The successful deployment of the JET-230 missile represents a critical milestone in the ongoing development of the Bayraktar KIZILELMA. Following rigorous preparations at the AKINCI Flight Training and Test Center in Tekirdağ, the S2 prototype was deployed to Merzifon to execute this complex maneuver. The precision strike against the sea-based target validates the platform’s ability to operate effectively with advanced, high-velocity weaponry.
This breakthrough confirms that the KIZILELMA is ready for high-stakes, long-range aerial operations.
Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman and CTO of Baykar, commended the engineering team immediately following the test, noting that the successful firing marks another essential milestone in the platform’s lifecycle. Beyond the JET-230, the UCAV has previously demonstrated proficiency with various local munitions, including GÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missiles, TOLUN, and the TEBER guidance kits.
The Platform Establishes New Aviation Milestones
Beyond its recent missile testing, the Bayraktar KIZILELMA has consistently rewritten the standards for unmanned aviation. In late 2025, the platform achieved a historic first by performing an autonomous close-formation flight with two separate prototypes, PT3 and PT5. This feat of smart swarm autonomy underscored the sophistication of the flight control algorithms developed by Baykar’s engineers.
Furthermore, the UCAV previously made headlines in November 2025 when it intercepted and destroyed a jet-powered drone target using a GÖKDOĞAN beyond-visual-range missile, guided by the ASELSAN MURAD AESA radar. This established the KIZILELMA as the world’s first unmanned combat jet to successfully eliminate an aerial target using such advanced engagement methods.
The Global Export Presence Continues to Expand
Baykar maintains its position as a global leader in the drone industry, securing its status as the world’s largest exporter of unmanned aerial systems for three consecutive years. With an export volume reaching 2.2 billion dollars in 2025, the company continues to break its own records. Currently, Baykar has finalized export agreements with 39 countries, solidifying its role as the primary driver of Turkey’s high-technology defense exports.
How do you evaluate the impact of the Bayraktar KIZILELMA’s latest supersonic missile capability on the current balance of air power? Share your professional insights and thoughts in the comments section below.
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