The Turkish company Baykar has officially begun the series production of its combat drone, Kızılelma, which is expected to be integrated into the Turkish Armed Forces by 2026. This was announced by Baykar's chairman, Selçuk Bayraktar, during an interview with CNN Türk, as reported by 'Ukrinform'. According to him, the sixth prototype of the new drone is already on the production line.

Kızılelma represents a new generation of drones. Bayraktar emphasized that this type of technology enables risky military operations without putting pilots' lives at risk.

“The Kızılelma is an unmanned fighter, so you can take risks without hesitation... Previously, drones were only reconnaissance machines, but they have now been transformed into combat vehicles. They have neutralized a significant number of combat vehicles and military technology. The Bayraktar TB2 achieved this,” stated Selçuk Bayraktar.

He added that by 2025, Turkey will hold 65% of the global drone market and will be the first country in the world to mass-produce drones. Baykar also emphasizes that the future of aviation is linked to robotic drone swarms and the development of unmanned combat systems.

Bayraktar Kızılelma is the first multi-role drone fighter developed since 2021 and is funded by Baykar's own resources. The drone is equipped with a turbojet engine, including a modification of the Ukrainian AI-322F, which allows it to achieve supersonic speeds and high maneuverability.

Kızılelma is capable of taking off from short runways, performing automated landings, operating in complex combat conditions, and carrying up to 1.5 tons of armaments. An important feature is its low radar cross-section and the incorporation of an AESA radar, which enhances situational awareness during combat operations.

This drone is positioned as an autonomous combat platform with light fighter capabilities, able to perform a wide range of combat tasks.