Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufacturer Baykar and Republikorp, Indonesia’s largest privately owned defence holding company, signed a landmark agreement at the SAHA 2026 exhibition in Istanbul on 6 May that will make Indonesia the launch export customer for the Kizilelma unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV).

According to the terms of the agreement, the initial phase includes the delivery of 12 Kizilelma UCAVs in 2028, with an additional option for another 48 units as well as local maintenance co-operation to ensure long-term operational readiness of the UCAV for the Indonesian military.

The Kizilelma is being developed primarily for the Turkish armed forces, where it is expected to serve as a significant component of future aerial operations. While it is designed to meet the requirements of the Turkish Air Force for land-based missions, the aircraft’s technical versatility also allows for multi-service deployment. Specifically, the Kizilelma is being engineered to operate from naval platforms, with plans for its future deployment on the Turkish Navy’s first indigenously produced MUGEM-class aircraft carrier and the flagship TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship. Its ability to perform short take-offs and landings on such ships provides a specialised capability for maritime aviation.

The agreement signed at SAHA 2026 is a continuation of an established defence relationship between Baykar and Jakarta. Indonesia has previously signed a contract for 60 Bayraktar TB3 armed UAVs, which are also optimised for land and carrier-based operations. Indonesia’s intent to build a credible maritime air wing was prominently displayed during the country’s Indo Defence exhibition in June 2025, where UCAV models integrated onto a carrier mock-up were shown. These efforts align with Jakarta’s strategic plans regarding the potential acquisition of the Italian aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi to modernise its naval fleet.

From a technical perspective the Kizilelma is built for high-performance missions requiring agility and a suppressed radar signature. It features a maximum take-off weight of 8,500 kg and can carry a payload of 1,500 kg. Powered by a Ukrainian Ivchenko-Progress turbofan, it is capable of reaching a maximum speed of Mach 0.9 and has a service ceiling of 45,000 ft (13,716 m). A key design priority has been achieving a low radar cross-section to enhance survivability in contested environments. The UCAV operates with fully autonomous take-off, landing and flight capabilities, managed through a combination of line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight communication links.

The weapon systems integration for the Kizilelma provides a comprehensive range of engagement options. For surface strikes it is capable of carrying 150 km-range Çakir and 275 km-range SOM-J cruise missiles. In the air-to-air domain it can be equipped with Turkish missiles such as the Bozdoğan short-range and Gökdoğan beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles. Significant testing has already validated these capabilities; last year a Kizilelma used a Murad active electronically scanned-array (AESA) radar to successfully engage a target with a Gökdoğan missile at a range exceeding 65 km, while the UCAV has also conducted various release tests with other guided smart munitions.

Following its maiden flight on 14 December 2022, the Kizilelma has moved through prototype iterations to refine its aerodynamic profile and mission systems. As the development cycle reaches its final stages, the Kizilelma is expected to enter active service this year, marking its transition from a high-profile development project to an operational platform.