Kızılelma is Baykar's jet-powered carrier-capable unmanned combat aircraft, with an 8,500 kg MTOW, 1,500 kg payload, and low-observable airframe; it first flew in December 2022 and became the first UCAV to autonomously fire a BVR air-to-air missile in November 2025.

Kızılelma signed its first export contract with Indonesia on 5 May 2026 at SAHA 2026 — 12 aircraft from 2028, with local production included. The Indonesia deal locates Turkish UCAV manufacturing in South-East Asia and directly competes with Chinese UCAV export pitches in the region.

Common Questions

What is the Kızılelma drone and what can it do?

Kızılelma is a Turkish jet-powered unmanned combat aircraft with an 8,500 kg MTOW, 1,500 kg payload, and low-observable airframe. It can operate from aircraft carriers without a catapult and became the first UCAV to autonomously fire a BVR air-to-air missile in November 2025.Source: Wikipedia, Baykar official

Why did Indonesia buy the Kızılelma drone from Turkey?

Indonesia signed for 12 Kızılelma aircraft with an option for 60 total and a local production centre, giving Jakarta a sovereign carrier-capable UCAV capability without depending on Chinese or US export systems.Source: Lowdown event analysis

How does Kızılelma compare to other fighter drones?

Kızılelma is one of the few carrier-capable jet-powered UCAVs in production anywhere; its BVR missile capability, low-observable design, and successful first export put it alongside US programmes such as the XQ-58 Valkyrie and ahead of most Chinese equivalents in the export market.Source: Grey Dynamics, Defence Security Asia

When will Indonesia receive its Kızılelma aircraft?

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028 under the contract signed at SAHA 2026 on 5 May 2026. Indonesia also secured an option for four additional fleets and a local production and maintenance centre.Source: SAHA 2026 contract reporting

Source Material

Bayraktar Kızılelma Makes History: First BVR Air-to-Air Missile Kill Bayraktar Kızılelma - Wikipedia

How the World Sees Them

China

Chinese UCAV exports (CH-4, Pterodactyl) have pitched South-East Asia for years; Indonesia's preference for Kızılelma represents a significant regional market loss for Beijing's defence-export ambitions.

Turkey

Kızılelma validates two decades of investment in indigenous UCAV development; the Indonesia export contract is Turkey's highest-profile aviation sale and a proof-of-concept for carrier-capable unmanned exports.

Indonesia

Jakarta's Kızılelma purchase with a built-in local production line gives it an independent carrier UCAV capability and a hedge against US F-35 export conditionality.