Supersonic destruction: KIZILELMA fighter drone hits target with Mach 2.5-speeding missile
Türkiye’s Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned fighter aircraft has successfully completed its first live-fire test with the ROKETSAN JET-230 supersonic air-to-surface missile, marking another major milestone in the development of the country’s next-generation combat drone.
During the test, the aircraft launched the missile from a distance of more than 120 kilometers (75 miles), striking its designated maritime target with precision. The successful firing further expands KIZILELMA’s growing arsenal of indigenous weapons as Baykar continues integrating new capabilities into the platform.
First live-fire test with the JET-230
According to Defence Turkey, the test was conducted at the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon, where the serial production KIZILELMA S2 prototype underwent preparations before taking off carrying two JET-230 missiles beneath its wings.
After flying toward a naval target over the Black Sea, the aircraft launched one of the supersonic missiles from a stand-off distance exceeding 120 kilometers, successfully destroying its target.
Baykar Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Selçuk Bayraktar, who oversaw the test, described the successful firing as “another milestone” in the aircraft’s development and congratulated the engineering and flight-test teams.
Expanding KIZILELMA’s strike capabilities
The successful integration of the JET-230 significantly broadens the range of missions KIZILELMA can perform. Developed by ROKETSAN, the JET-230 is a domestically produced supersonic air-to-surface missile designed to engage high-value land and maritime targets from long stand-off distances.
While detailed specifications remain limited, the missile is intended to provide fast response times and improve survivability by allowing launch platforms to engage targets without entering heavily defended airspace.
The latest test follows a series of successful weapon integration trials. KIZILELMA has already demonstrated compatibility with several Turkish-developed precision-guided munitions, including the GÖKDOĞAN beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, TOLUN, TEBER-82, KGK, and LGK-82.
Building on previous aviation firsts
The JET-230 firing represents the latest achievement in a development program that has repeatedly set milestones for unmanned combat aviation.
In November 2025, Bayraktar KIZILELMA became what Baykar describes as the world’s first unmanned fighter aircraft to destroy a jet-powered aerial target using a beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile. During that test, the aircraft successfully engaged a target designated by ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar using the GÖKDOĞAN missile developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE.
According to Anadolu, a month later, in December 2025, two KIZILELMA prototypes performed what Baykar said was the world’s first autonomous close-formation flight between two unmanned fighter aircraft, using swarm autonomy algorithms developed by the company. The demonstration showcased the aircraft’s ability to coordinate complex maneuvers without direct pilot intervention, an important capability for future collaborative combat operations.
Türkiye’s ambitions in unmanned combat aviation
KIZILELMA forms part of Türkiye’s broader effort to develop an indigenous ecosystem of advanced unmanned combat systems supported by domestically produced sensors, weapons, and mission software.
Unlike conventional unmanned combat aerial vehicles, KIZILELMA is being developed as an unmanned fighter aircraft capable of performing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The aircraft is expected to operate alongside crewed fighters while also conducting independent strike, suppression of enemy air defenses, and long-range precision attack missions. As flight testing continues, Baykar is expected to further expand KIZILELMA’s operational envelope ahead of its eventual entry into service.
