Kizilelma UCAV demonstrates BVR combat capability with Gökdogan missile

Kızılelma prototype TC-OZB5 seen carrying a pair of underwing Gökdoğan BVR missiles as it departs for an air-to-air demonstration against a jet-powered target drone on 29 November. (Baykar)

Türkiye's Baykar Kızılelma unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) demonstrated its air-to-air capabilities on 29 November, successfully striking a jet-powered target drone with a Tübitak SAGE Gökdoğan beyond-visual-range (BVR) missile. The test took place near Sinop on Türkiye's Black Sea coast and was conducted by the fifth Kızılelma prototype, TC-OZB5.

In the scenario, a high-speed jet-engined target aircraft was launched and detected by Aselsan's Murad 100-A active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar fitted to the Kızılelma UCAV. The Kızılelma launched a wing-mounted Gökdoğan missile that struck the target. The Kızılelma was also equipped with the indigenously developed T-Link secure datalink and a national identification friend-or-foe (IFF) system, both of which were active during the engagement, according to Aselsan.

This test marked the latest in a structured series of air-to-air integration trials that began in mid-November and progressively expanded the aircraft's sensor and weapons capabilities.

The first tests involved the integration of Aselsan's Toygun electro-optical targeting system (EOTS), which was designed to enhance the platform with 360º situational awareness through wide-spectrum scanning and long-range infrared imaging. This was followed by the integration of Murad 100-A AESA radar and the Gökdoğan BVR missile. The radar is a multifunction fire-control system featuring an agile electronic beam steering and the ability to manage simultaneous air-to-air and air-to-ground operations. The next major milestone was a combined weapon-integration and radar-performance trial involving two Turkish Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16s.

The Gökdoğan missile itself is a high-manoeuvrability BVR weapon equipped with a solid-state active radar seeker and designed to provide fire-and-forget capability with the option of mid-course updates range exceeding 65 km.