Bayraktar Kızılelma

The Bayraktar Kızılelma (English: Red Apple) is a single-engine, low-observable, carrier-capable, jet-powered unmanned combat aerial vehicle, currently in development by Turkish defense company Baykar. The aircraft is being developed as part of Project MIUS (Turkish: Muharip İnsansız Uçak Sistemi; English: Combatant Unmanned Aircraft System). The initial Bayraktar Kızılelma (Kızılelma-A) is subsonic. Planned variants (Kızılelma-B and Kızılelma-C) are intended to be supersonic, the latter having a twin-engined configuration. It is one of the two Turkish jet-powered stealth UCAV along with TAI Anka-3.
Baykar CTO Selçuk Bayraktar had initially announced that the Kızılelma was expected to make its maiden flight in 2023, adding that a jet-powered UCAV was a “12-year-long dream”. The Kızılelma was able to complete its first flight ahead of the expected date, in December 2022.

Development #

The first conceptual studies for Bayraktar MIUS started in 2013. In July 2021, the first design images and information about the characteristics of the aircraft were shared with the public.

Engine selection #

The AI-322 Turbofan Engine Supply Agreement and AI-25TLT Turbofan Engine Integration Agreement were signed between Baykar and Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress at the SahaExpo event in November 2021. The first prototypes will go at subsonic speeds using AI-25TLT engines. The next prototypes are expected to be supersonic with AI-322F engines.

Disclosure of the project name #

The project was initially known as MIUS (Turkish: Muharip İnsansız Uçak Sistemi English: Combatant Unmanned Aircraft System). Its official name, Kızılelma (Red Apple in Turkish, was made public in March 2022.

Prototypes #

Andriy Yermak in front of the Kızılelma
On the same day of the name disclosure, Selçuk Bayraktar revealed that the first Kızılelma prototype has entered the assembly line. The first ready-to-fly prototype was displayed to the public in Teknofest 2022.

Beginning of the testing process #

• The first engine integration test was successfully conducted on September 19, 2022.
• On November 20, 2022, automatic taxiing and ground running tests were carried out.
• Take-off test flights began on December 3, 2022 and Kızılelma cut its wheels off the ground for the first time.
• The aircraft made its maiden flight on December 14, 2022.
• The drone successfully made its second flight in mid-January 2023.
• 15 April 2023, aircraft completed its fourth flight test.
• 18 April 2023, aircraft completed its flight test with landing gear folded inside the fuselage .
• 19 April 2023, aircraft completed its sixth and seventh flight tests with serial landing-take-off and high-speed flight trials.
• 20 April 2023, aircraft completed its eight flight test with high-speed flight and maneuver trials, as well as serial landing-take-off and passing trials.
• 30 April 2023, the Kızılelma UCAV flew in formation with a SoloTürk F-16C during TEKNOFEST 2023 in Istanbul. The Kızılelma UCAV is designed to be used as a loyal wingman by the combat aircraft of the Turkish Air Force.
• 17 June 2023, Turkish UAV Bayraktar KIZILELMA reached an altitude of 9.5 km during the 12th test flight.

Design #

Airframe #

TCG Anadolu (L-400) amphibious assault ship (LHD and V/STOL aircraft carrier) of the Turkish Naval Forces, anchored at the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Baykar Kızılelma, developed as part of Project MIUS for the Turkish Navy and Turkish Air Force, is a jet-engined UCAV designed to operate on TCG Anadolu. Its maiden flight took place on December 14, 2022. TCG Anadolu was commissioned on April 10, 2023.
Baykar MIUS Kızılelma UCAV on TCG Anadolu
The Kızılelma is an unmanned aircraft featuring a low-RCS supersonic airframe equipped with an AESA radar. The aircraft is powered by a turbofan engine fed by two air inlets. Yaw control is achieved with two vertical stabilizers. The aircraft has coupled-canard controls for increased maneuverability or better controlling the main wing airflow. Internal compartments will allow the aircraft to operate in contested environments while sustaining low observability.
The aerodynamic controls feature canards-delta configuration, previously seen on certain stealth aircraft such as the Chengdu J-20 and the AVIC Dark Sword, and non-stealth aircraft such as the Saab Viggen and Saab Gripen. The canards offer a trade-off between relatively less stealth but great maneuverability. Some control measures could be implemented to reduce its impact on radar signature.
The Kızılelma has a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 6,000 kilograms (13,200 lb), with 1,500 kg of weight available for the payload. According to data shared by the company, the Kızılelma will have an operational altitude of 35,000 feet (10,670 m).

Carrier capability #

The aircraft is designed in a way that makes it capable to takeoff and land on an amphibious assault ship, such as the TCG Anadolu, without any need for a catapult system.

Variants #

During Teknofest 2022, Baykar announced that there will be at least 3 variants of Kızılelma with different engine configurations. The engines are produced by the Turkish-Ukrainian joint venture Black Sea Shield. Kızılelma-A will be capable of near-supersonic speeds, being powered by the AI-25TLT engine. Kızılelma-B will fly at supersonic speeds, powered by a single Ukrainian AI-322F engine. The Kızılelma-C will incorporate two AI-322F engines.
While there are expectations to make use of Turkish-made Tusaş Engine Industries TF6000 turbofan engines in the future, nothing has been confirmed so far.

Features #

Baykar MIUS Kızılelma UCAV on TCG Anadolu

• Fully-autonomous takeoff and landing
• Low radar cross-section
• High maneuverability
• Line Of Sight (LOS) and Beyond LOS (BLOS) controlled
• Takeoff and landing capability from short-runway aircraft carriers
• High situational awareness with AESA radar
• Internal weapons bays

Operators #

Planned operators of Bayraktar Kızılelma #

 Turkey [Unknown]

• Turkish Air Force
• Turkish Navy

Specifications (Kızılelma-A) #

Data from Baykar TechnologyGeneral characteristics

• Capacity: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
• Length: 14.7 m (48 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
• Height: 3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
• Max takeoff weight: 8,500 kg (18,739 lb)
• Fuel capacity: unspecified Jet-A1 or JP-8 fuel capacity
• Powerplant: 1 × Ivchenko-Progress AI-25TLT Turbofan engine, 16.9 kN (3,790 lbf) thrust – no afterburners (Kızılelma-A).
• Powerplant: 1 × Ivchenko-Progress AI-322F Turbofan engine, 24.5 kN (5,510 lbf) thrust dry, and 9,900 lbf (44 kN) with afterburner (Kızılelma-B).

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,100 km/h (680 mph, 590 kn) 0.9 Mach
• Cruise speed: 735 km/h (457 mph, 400 kn) 0.6 Mach
• Combat range: 930 km (580 mi, 500 nmi) on internal fuel
• Endurance: 5-6 hours
• Service ceiling: 14,000 m (45,000 ft)
• Operational altitude: 11,000 m (35,000 ft)

Armament

• Hardpoints: 2 × internal stations (expected), 6 × external stations on wings (expected)
• Guided rockets
  • CIRIT
• Missiles
  • Air-to-air missiles
    • Gökdoğan BVR AAM
    • Bozdoğan AAM
    • Akdoğan AAM
    • Gökhan AAM
  • Air-to-surface missiles
    • SOM air-launched cruise missile
    • TUBITAK-SAGE KUZGUN-TJ Turbojet-powered, air-to-surface missile
    • TUBITAK-SAGE KUZGUN-KY Solid fuel rocket-powered, air-to-surface missile
    • TUBITAK-SAGE KUZGUN-ER, Turbojet-powered, air-to-surface missile (According to TUBITAK-SAGE, this missile will be equivalent to Penguin Missiles.)
    • TUBITAK-SAGE KUZGUN-EW, Kuzgun-EW will be able to carry miniaturised EW payload which will act as a stand-in jammer and suppress enemy air defences to significantly increase the survivability of the aircraft of the Turkish Air Force.
    • L-UMTAS Air-to-surface, anti-tank guided missile
    • AKBABA, Air-to-surface, anti-radiation missile
    • ROKETSAN ÇAKIR, anti-ship, air-to-surface, surface-to-surface cruise missile.
    • TRG-230-iHA, Supersonic, air-to-surface missile
• Bombs
  • Teber-81 (Mark 81 bomb w/ ROKETSAN Laser Guidance Kit)
  • HGK-82 (Mark 82 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Precision Guidance Kit)
  • KGK-82 (Mark 82 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Wing Assisted Guidance Kit)
  • Teber-82 (Mark 82 bomb w/ ROKETSAN Laser Guidance Kit)
  • HGK-83 (Mark 83 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Precision Guidance Kit
  • KGK-83 (Mark 83 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Wing Assisted Guidance Kit)
  • HGK-84 (Mark 84 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Precision Guidance Kit)
  • LHGK-84 (Mark 84 bomb w/ TUBITAK-SAGE Laser Sensitive Guidance Kit)
  • TUBITAK-SAGE TOGAN Rack of four 81 mm mortars (GPS/INS or unguided)
  • TUBITAK-SAGE KUZGUN-SS Glide bomb
  • Aselsan Miniature Bomb (MB)
  • SARB-83 Bunker buster
  • NEB-84 Bunker buster
  • TUBITAK-SAGE BOZOK
  • MAM-C
  • MAM-L
  • MAM-T

Avionics

• National AESA Radar
• Aselsan Common Aperture Targeting System
• Electronic Warfare Pod
• National SIGINT module

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