Image source: topwar.ru
Information has appeared on the web about the readiness of a prototype of the new Bayraktar Kizilelma drone for flight tests. This is a new drone from the Turkish manufacturer Baykar, being developed as a deck-mounted supersonic low-visibility heavy UAV.
The development and production of Bayraktar Kizilelma is carried out in close cooperation with Ukraine, despite the statements of Turkish President Erdogan about the suspension of joint work in this direction.
Thus, the option of installing not only the Turkish TEI TF-6000 engine on the new UAV, but also the Ukrainian AI-322F manufactured by Ivchenko-Progress is being considered. The engines from Ukraine were ordered by Baykar back in July last year. According to the head of the company, Halyuk Bayraktar, the Kizilelma drone was previously planned to be produced at a factory in Ukraine. Now these plans are in question.
Image source: topwar.ru
Bayraktar Kizilelma is considered a promising development. Its main feature is the possibility of taking off from the deck of universal amphibious assault ships of the TCG Anadolu project of the Turkish Navy. According to preliminary characteristics, the new Bayraktar with a mass of 6 tons can carry up to 1,500 kg of payload. The jet engine provides a cruising speed of up to 700 km/h, while the maximum will be up to Mach 1.6.
