In July 2021, the Turkish group Baykar Defense, known for developing the Bayraktar TB2 tactical drone, lifted the veil on the MIUS program, which would then lead to a combat drone [UCAV] which can be performed from the deck of the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu.
Baykar Defense CEO Haluk Bayraktar stated that this device would be equipped with “artificial intelligence” that would allow it to “make certain decisions on its own” that it would be able to cruise at Mach 1 fly, and that it would have a lifting capacity of 1.5 tons. Also, its radar signature should be reduced…despite a “duck” plan.
“We will launch it from TCG Anadolu without using a catapult. It will be able to land on the ship with suspension lines and a butt,” he specified, before announcing the first flight of a prototype in 2023.
Since then, Baykar Defense has signed an agreement with Ukrainian engine manufacturer Ivchenko Progress to receive AI-322F turbofan engines while waiting to receive a new engine based on Motor Sich’s MS500.
Anyway, the development of this combat drone, now called Kızılelma, was faster than expected. Actually after driving tests [ou cours desquels il a briévement quitté le sol]the prototype of this aircraft successfully completed its maiden flight on December 14th.
According to the available data, the Kızılelma has a maximum takeoff weight of 6 tons, a length of 14.7 meters, a wingspan of 10 meters and a height of 3.3 meters. In terms of performance, this drone can fly at a top speed of 590 knots [Mach 0,9]at an operating altitude of 35,000 feet [environ 11’000 mètres]. Its range would be 930 km. Finally, in particular, it will be equipped with an active antenna radar [AESA] Turkish manufacture as well as modules for electronic warfare and signals intelligence.
That being said, there is still a long way to go to make the Kızılelma shipboard, also aboard the TCG Anadolu, which obviously has no catapults. Add to that the fact that the Turkish Navy has no experience in naval flight operations… And using the X-47B demonstrator developed by Northrop Grumman, only the US Navy has so far managed to recover a UCAV aboard one of their aircraft carriers in this way from holdover lines. Ditto for the MQ-25 Stingray, a drone specifically designed for in-flight refueling.