Kızılelma
Baykar low-observable carrier-capable UCAV (eight-tonne class), first exported to Indonesia in May 2026.
Last refreshed: 21 May 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Is Kızılelma the first non-US carrier-capable combat drone to crack the export market?
Timeline for Kızılelma
Signed for first export to Indonesia in 12-aircraft deal from 2028 with local production option
Drones: Industry & Defence: Baykar sells first Kızılelma to Indonesia- 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
Background
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.
