Image source: topwar.ru
Turkish Corporation Bayraktar is going in 2023 to exhibit Teknofest new jet unmanned aerial vehicle. It will be a machine with a reduced radar signature. The first flight of the UAV Bayraktar Kizilelma planned for early 2023.
As claimed by Polish online Defence24, the drone is intended to be a crown of development of Turkish drones. It is designed in two versions. The basic version will be subsonic speed and is designed for Maritime operations. It is intended to be placed on Board the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu
The second option, the designation Kizilelmi-B, is designed to achieve supersonic speed and be able to work with the F-16, and in the future with the aircraft of the 5th generation TAI TF-X (Turkish name (MMU Milli Muharip Uçak — National combat aircraft)).
In March of 2022 was presented the first prototype of the new drone. It is built in the same plant, which produces UAV Bayraktar TB2. In August 2022 the drone was first demonstrated publicly at the exhibition Teknofest in the city of Samsun in Northern Turkey.
As told, the technical Director of the Seljuk Baykar Bayraktar, the UAV should be ready to fly in the first quarter of 2023. Around the same time, it is planned to start testing with weapons, and make the enterprise other experimental samples of the drone.
According to the Polish press, the drone is impressive compared to a twin-engine Bayraktar Akinci. It is built on stealth technology. The wingspan of the UAV is about 6 m, fuselage length 9 m. At a takeoff weight of about 5.5 tons drone should be able to carry in the inner chambers of more than 1000 kg of weapons. Among the weapons of the drone –missile SOM Bozdogan and Gokdogan.
Interestingly, the drone will be equipped with a Ukrainian engine. The Turkish company will use the latest version of the Ukrainian engine, designated al-25ТЛТ. It differs less weight and fuel consumption by more than 17 kN thrust that can provide automated high performance.
As noted by the selçuk Bayraktar, the drones will be produced at the plants, which the Turkish company plans to build in Ukraine. This will ensure the interest in drones by the Ukrainian side. However, not the fact that by the time when the production will be able to establish, Ukraine is still the Ukraine in its current form. So the Polish press, and Turkish producers should be more careful at such an ambitious statement.
