The Turkish “loyal chain” conducts taxiing and take-off tests before the first flight

The Baykar Kizilelma prototype, a “faithful companion,” is undergoing taxiing and takeoff tests ahead of its first flight, scheduled for 2023. (Baykar)

Turkey has conducted taxi and takeoff tests of its domestically developed Baykar Kizilelma “loyal wingman” prototype, ahead of its planned first flight in 2023.

On November 20, the manufacturer published a video recording of the tests of the drone, which was previously called Bayraktar MIUS (Bayraktar Unmanned Combat Aircraft System), noting that the tests actually exceeded the planned parameters.

“Our goal was to run at a slightly lower speed in the first acceleration test, but we exceeded that limit,” said a company representative. “Fortunately, Kizilelma successfully completed the first autonomous taxi and take-off tests without any problems.”

Turkey first unveiled its Bayraktar MIUS unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) concept in 2021. The Kizilelma, as it is now called, is a single-engine platform that has stealth characteristics in an airframe design (including an internal weapons bay), and is reportedly equipped with artificial intelligence (AI).