Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma

Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma
The Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma (English: Red Apple) is a single-engine, low-observable, carrier-capable, jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle, currently in development by Turkish defense company Baykar. The aircraft is being developed as part of Project MIUS (English: Combatant Unmanned Aircraft System). The initial Bayraktar Kızılelma (Kızılelma-A) is subsonic. Planned variants (Kızılelma-B and Kızılelma-C) are intended to be supersonic, the latter having a twin-engined configuration.
Baykar CTO Selçuk Bayraktar had initially announced that the Kızılelma was expected to make its maiden flight in 2023, adding that a jet-powered UCAV was a "12-year-long dream". The Kızılelma was able to complete its first flight ahead of the expected date, in December 2022.
Development
The first conceptual studies for Bayraktar MIUS started in 2013. In July 2021, the first design images and information about the characteristics of the aircraft were shared with the public.
Engine selection
The AI-322 Turbofan Engine Supply Agreement and AI-25TLT Turbofan Engine Integration Agreement were signed between Baykar and Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress at the SahaExpo event in November 2021. The first prototypes will go at subsonic speeds using AI-25TLT engines. The next prototypes are expected to be supersonic with AI-322F engines.
Disclosure of the project name
The code name of the project was initially MIUS (- English: Combatant Unmanned Aircraft System). Its official name, Kızılelma, which means Red Apple in Turkish, was shared with the public in March 2022.
Prototypes
On the same day of the name disclosure, Selçuk Bayraktar revealed that the first Kızılelma prototype has entered the assembly line. The first ready-to-fly prototype was displayed to the public in Teknofest 2022.
Beginning of the testing process
The first engine integration test was successfully conducted on September 19, 2022.
On November 20, 2022, automatic taxiing and ground running tests were carried out.
Take-off test flights began on December 3, 2022 and Kızılelma cut its wheels off the ground for the first time.
The aircraft made its maiden flight on December 14, 2022.
The drone successfully made its second flight in mid-January 2023.
15 April 2023, aircraft completed its fourth flight test.
18 April 2023, aircraft completed its flight test with landing gear folded inside the fuselage .
19 April 2023, aircraft completed its sixth and seventh flight tests with serial landing-take-off and high-speed flight trials.
20 April 2023, aircraft completed its eight flight test with high-speed flight and maneuver trials, as well as serial landing-take-off and passing trials.
30 April 2023, the Kızılelma UCAV flew in formation with a SoloTürk F-16C during TEKNOFEST 2023 in Istanbul. The Kızılelma UCAV is designed to be used as a loyal wingman by the combat aircraft of the Turkish Air Force.
17 June 2023, Turkish UAV Bayraktar KIZILELMA reached an altitude of 9.5 km during the 12th test flight.
Design
Airframe
The Kızılelma is an unmanned aircraft featuring a low-RCS supersonic airframe equipped with an AESA radar. The aircraft is powered by a turbofan engine fed by two air inlets. Yaw control is achieved with two vertical stabilizers. The aircraft has coupled-canard controls for increased maneuverability or better controlling the main wing airflow. Internal compartments will allow the aircraft to operate in contested environments while sustaining low observability.
The aerodynamic controls feature canards-delta configuration, previously seen on certain stealth aircraft such as the Chengdu J-20 and the AVIC Dark Sword, and non-stealth aircraft such as the Saab Viggen and Saab Gripen. The canards offer a trade-off between relatively less stealth but great maneuverability. Some control measures could be implemented to reduce its impact on radar signature.
The Kızılelma has a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of , with 1,500 kg of weight available for the payload. According to data shared by the company, the Kızılelma will have an operational altitude of .
Carrier capability
The aircraft is designed in a way that makes it capable to takeoff and land on an amphibious assault ship, such as the TCG Anadolu, without any need for a catapult system.
Variants
During Teknofest 2022, Baykar announced that there will be at least 3 variants of Kızılelma with different engine configurations. The engines are produced by the Turkish-Ukrainian joint venture Black Sea Shield. Kızılelma-A will be capable of near-supersonic speeds, being powered by the AI-25TLT engine. Kızılelma-B will fly at supersonic speeds, powered by a single Ukrainian AI-322F engine. The Kızılelma-C will incorporate two AI-322F engines.
While there are expectations to make use of Turkish-made Tusaş Engine Industries TF6000 turbofan engines in the future, nothing has been confirmed so far.
Features
Fully-autonomous takeoff and landing
Low radar cross-section
High maneuverability
Line Of Sight (LOS) and Beyond LOS (BLOS) controlled
Takeoff and landing capability from short-runway aircraft carriers
High situational awareness with AESA radar
Internal weapons bays
Operators
Planned operators of Bayraktar Kızılelma
[Unknown]
Turkish Air Force
Turkish Navy
Specifications (Kızılelma-A)
See also
China :
FH-97A(2022)
WZ-8(in service since 2018)
MD-22(2022)
FL-71(2018)
AVIC Dark Sword(2006)
USA :
Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie(2016)
Boeing MQ-25 Stingray(2013)
Australia :
Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat(2019)
India :
HAL Combat Air Teaming System(2017)
References
Stealth aircraft
Unmanned stealth aircraft
Single-engined jet aircraft
Unmanned military aircraft of Turkey
International unmanned aerial vehicles