Turkiye’s Bayraktar KIZILELMA is redefining modern airpower as the world’s first autonomous, supersonic unmanned fighter jet. Powered by advanced Ukrainian afterburning engines, the stealth platform recently achieved a major milestone by successfully firing supersonic JET-230 missiles. Offering near-4.5-generation combat capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional manned fighters, the KIZILELMA is leading a total revolution in tactical aviation.
⏱️ CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Bayraktar KIZILELMA Test Fires JET-230 Supersonic Missile
01:25 - Turkish Guided Munitions TOLUN TEBER-82 and LGK-82
02:40 - TOYGUN Electro Optical Targeting System Preserves Stealth
03:55 - Baykar Builds Drone Factory in Kyiv Ukraine
05:15 - Ukrainian Ivchenko Progress AI-322F Engine Powers KIZILELMA
06:35 - Indonesia Orders 12 KIZILELMA Unmanned Fighter Jets
08:00 - KIZILELMA Stealth Drone Features 30 Million Dollar Cost
09:20 - US Kratos Valkyrie and Chinese GJ-11 Loyal Wingmen
10:45 - Will Unmanned Fighter Jets Replace Human Pilots?
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SOURCES: https://pastebin.com/DPk8wGeK
⏱️ CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Bayraktar KIZILELMA Test Fires JET-230 Supersonic Missile
01:25 - Turkish Guided Munitions TOLUN TEBER-82 and LGK-82
02:40 - TOYGUN Electro Optical Targeting System Preserves Stealth
03:55 - Baykar Builds Drone Factory in Kyiv Ukraine
05:15 - Ukrainian Ivchenko Progress AI-322F Engine Powers KIZILELMA
06:35 - Indonesia Orders 12 KIZILELMA Unmanned Fighter Jets
08:00 - KIZILELMA Stealth Drone Features 30 Million Dollar Cost
09:20 - US Kratos Valkyrie and Chinese GJ-11 Loyal Wingmen
10:45 - Will Unmanned Fighter Jets Replace Human Pilots?
Support us directly as we bring you independent, up-to-date reporting on military news and global conflicts by clicking here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMilitaryShow/join
#militarystrategy #militarydevelopments #militaryanalysis
#themilitaryshow
SOURCES: https://pastebin.com/DPk8wGeK
Category
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NewsTranscript
00:00In recent years, the military battlefield has seen unmanned systems steadily take over roles that used to be fulfilled by
00:06soldiers.
00:07On the ground, Ukraine is making prodigious use of robots for logistics and evacuation of wounded troops on the front
00:14lines,
00:15sparing humans from performing this incredibly dangerous work.
00:19Some ground robots are now being adapted for autonomous or remote-controlled combat roles,
00:24helping to minimize Ukraine's major disadvantage and manpower across a vast front line.
00:28But it's in the air where drones have already undeniably changed the face of warfare.
00:34Unmanned aerial vehicles perform reconnaissance, conduct long-range strikes deep behind enemy lines,
00:39and even act as motherships transporting smaller attack drones.
00:43However, there's one piece of equipment they haven't been quite able to replace, actual fighter aircraft.
00:50But all of that is about to change.
00:52Turkey 8 has just conducted another successful firing test
00:56of what is rumored to be the world's first unmanned fighter plane, the Bayraktar Kizilelma.
01:02This innovative jet reportedly has unique capabilities that favorably compare to all the high-tech new weaponry coming out of
01:09the US.
01:10What's more, current prototypes are powered by a Ukrainian-built engine.
01:14So, here's the full story of the Kizilelma and its Ukrainian engine, and what it means for warfare of the
01:21future.
01:22The name Kizilelma translates from the Turkish as Red Apple, a storied symbol in Turkish mythology,
01:29representing distant but inevitable victory.
01:32But with each successive successful test, the vision becomes exponentially closer.
01:37Footage of the latest test of the Kizilelma was revealed in July 2026.
01:42According to the manufacturer, Baykard Technologies, a Kizilelma with tail number S2
01:48departed at Kizilelma Flight Training and Test Center in Chorlu, Dakirda, on July 8.
01:54Its destination, the fifth main jet base command in Mersifon, where the firing test was to be carried out.
02:01Following a series of preparations and tests at the base,
02:04the unmanned fighter aircraft took off with two supersonic jet-230 missiles under its wings
02:10and headed toward a naval target.
02:12The Kizilelma then fired its jet-230 missiles and struck the target precisely at a range of more than 74
02:18miles.
02:19It's a significant milestone.
02:21It represents another major threshold crossed,
02:24demonstrating the unmanned fighter's ability to conduct critical missions with air-to-ground supersonic munitions.
02:30Not too much is known about the jet-230 missile that it fired,
02:34other than that it reportedly has a maximum range of over 200 kilometers or 124 miles.
02:40However, it's likely to be an adaptation of the Turkish UAV-230 missile,
02:46which the manufacturer RocketSand describes as a supersonic ballistic missile.
02:50The UAV-230 reportedly has a shorter range of approximately 93 miles.
02:55So if the jet-230 is indeed an extension of the UAV-230,
03:00an increased range is one of the upgrades.
03:02But whatever the case may be,
03:04the successful tests with a supersonic missile
03:07confirms the growing offensive capabilities of the Kizilelma.
03:10It's previously been successfully tested with the Tolun,
03:14Teber 82 KGK, and LGK-82 munitions,
03:18all domestically produced in Turkey, just like the jet-230.
03:22But there's a striking difference between those other munitions and the jet-230
03:26that sets this latest test apart.
03:28The Tolun, Teber 82 KGK, and LGK-82 munitions
03:33are all essentially guided glide bombs, not missiles per se.
03:37To be more precise, the Tolun is a precise guided glide bomb,
03:40often classified as a guided bomb or short-range missile,
03:44developed by Turkish developer Aselsan.
03:46The standard model features GPS INS guidance,
03:49ideal for stationary targets like the ones struck in the latest test.
03:54But there's also an imaging infrared or IIR variant available
03:57for engaging moving targets.
03:59The IIR version includes a two-way data link,
04:03allowing man-in-the-loop control for precise target locking
04:06right up until impact.
04:07The Tolun has a range of around 55 nautical miles,
04:11an effective altitude of 40,000 feet,
04:14and a circular probable error or CEP of around 49 feet.
04:18It's specifically geared for attacking hardened structures,
04:21with a bunker-buster warhead capable of penetrating
04:24around 3.3 feet of reinforced concrete.
04:27The bomb is certified for use on Turkey A's fleet of F-16 Block 40 fighter jets.
04:33But it's also now available for use with the Kizil Elmer,
04:36providing a highly precise, cost-effective solution
04:38for engaging hardened bunkers or moving vehicles at closer ranges,
04:42with real-time optical confirmation.
04:44The successful test with the JET-230 supersonic missile
04:48now additionally provides the Kizil Elmer
04:50with a long-range high-speed strike capability
04:53against defended or more distant targets,
04:56even those moving at sea.
04:57Similarly, the LGK-82 is a 500-pound class laser-guided bomb,
05:03also manufactured by ASALSAN.
05:05It's identical to the U.S.'s paveway line in terms of layout.
05:09It can reach a range of around 7.5 miles when launched from fighter jets,
05:13and its laser guidance kit has been applied to NATO-standard MK-82
05:18and Russian-standard FAB series of general-purpose bombs.
05:22The Teber-82 is a hybrid guidance kit
05:25that employs both laser and GNSS guidance.
05:28It comes in three variants,
05:29the baseline, a stubby wing kit intended for slow-flying platforms,
05:33and an extended-range wing kit.
05:35The range for the baseline variant is around 7.4 miles for fighters,
05:40which increases to almost 50 miles with the extended-range wing kit.
05:43Just weeks before the latest tests with the JET-230,
05:47in June 2026,
05:49another successful test using both the LGK-82
05:52and the Teber-82 was carried out
05:54using another high-tech piece of Turkish hardware,
05:57the Toy Gun Electrical Optical Targeting System, or EOTS.
06:02This is an embedded targeting sensor created by ASL-SAN,
06:05specifically for low-observable combat aircraft like the Kizilelma
06:09and other advanced bi-car UAVs like the Karn and the Anker-3.
06:14Unlike traditional targeting pods that hang externally
06:17and increase radar signature,
06:19the Toy Gun is fully integrated into the aircraft's fuselage,
06:22preserving its stealth profile.
06:24This makes the Kizilelma the first unmanned fighter in the world
06:28to feature an embedded EOTS,
06:29a capability previously found OLEON-manned 5th generation fighters at the F-35.
06:35During the test,
06:36a static target designated by Toy Gun 100 EOTS was hit with both bombs,
06:41proving the Kizilelma's capability to perform stand-in strikes on its own,
06:45with the Toy Gun 100 EOTS acting as the main air-to-surface sensor.
06:49So, we knew the Kizilelma could deploy high-precision glide bombs.
06:54Following the latest test,
06:55we now know that it can launch supersonic aeroballistic missiles
06:59against moving targets as well,
07:00a major new arrow in its quiver.
07:02But if you've been following the development of the Kizilelma,
07:06that shouldn't be much of a surprise.
07:08Development has been proceeding at a rapid pace,
07:10with new features and capabilities seemingly being demonstrated every few months.
07:15The initial test only commenced as recently as 2022,
07:19but such has been the pace of development
07:21that it's been in serial production since the summer of 2025,
07:25with first operational deliveries expected the following year.
07:29Perhaps in part due to the rapid iterations,
07:31when it went into serial production,
07:33it wasn't clear exactly which weapons it would be able to carry.
07:36But that's becoming more evident by the day,
07:39and it's impressive.
07:40In addition to guided munitions and supersonic missiles,
07:44the Kizilelma is also expected to carry Rocket Sand Sirit missile,
07:48a Turkish counterpart to the American APKWS.
07:52That will add the ability to take down Shahid-type UAVs
07:55to its growing range of targets.
07:57And that's likely to be music to the ears of one of the parties
08:00with the keenest interest in the Kizilelma, Ukraine.
08:04Shooting down Russia's gerund analogues of the notorious Shahid
08:07has become somewhat of a national sport in Ukraine,
08:10and the more ways of bringing them down, the better.
08:13Unlike most of the other NATO members,
08:15the Turkish government has largely sat on the fence
08:18during the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine,
08:21retaining good relations with both.
08:22However, some of the nation's defense contractors
08:25have distinctly pitched their tents
08:27on the Ukrainian side of the fence.
08:29In particular, Ukraine has cultivated an expanding relationship
08:32with Baikar since the invasion began.
08:34In 2022, the company famously donated multiple units
08:39of its TB2 attack drones in response to crowdfunding campaigns
08:43in Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland,
08:45refusing payment and directing funds
08:47meant to purchase the drones to humanitarian aid instead.
08:51Around 50 TB2s had been delivered to Ukraine by mid-2022,
08:55with additional direct donations confirmed in early 2023.
08:59Ultimately, their use in the early stages of the war
09:02petered out due to limited efficacy
09:04against Russian air defense and electronic warfare.
09:07But in recent times,
09:09Baikar TB2 drones have made a significant tactical comeback in Ukraine.
09:14Starting from around June 2025,
09:17Ukrainian TB2s have successfully engaged in
09:20and destroyed Russian high-speed attack boats
09:22and landing craft in the Black Sea on multiple occasions.
09:25On September 3rd, 2025, for example,
09:29a TB2 destroyed a Russian high-speed attack boat
09:31carrying airborne troops near the Tendrivska Spit,
09:35a narrow stretch of land in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast.
09:39Seven occupiers were destroyed and four wounded,
09:42the Ukrainian navy said in an official statement on Telegram.
09:45More recently, Ukraine's fleet of TB2s
09:48has been used for both reconnaissance and precision strikes
09:51against naval vessels and coastal encampments,
09:54exploiting gaps in Russian air coverage.
09:56And they appear to be doing the job effectively.
09:59For example,
10:00Ukrainian TB2s are believed to have destroyed
10:02two Russian naval drones in the Black Sea in June 2026.
10:07But Baikar's involvement in Ukraine
10:09certainly doesn't end at donations of TB2s.
10:12The company is in the process of building
10:14a massive drone manufacturing plant in the Kiev region.
10:17In other words, it's moving from mere supplier
10:20to actual domestic producer.
10:22A September 2023 report revealed Baikar's intentions
10:26to invest $100 million in three projects in Ukraine.
10:29Then, in February the following year,
10:31company CEO, Haluk Bayraktar,
10:34announced at the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,
10:37that construction had begun on the first of them,
10:39a major Baikar drone manufacturing facility in Kiev.
10:43The plant is expected to produce around 120 large drones per year
10:48and employ around 500 people when fully operational.
10:51The aim is to assemble TB2 and potentially TB3 carrier-based drones,
10:56with plans to include the Akinsy as well as the Kisilelma.
11:00The facility was meant to be operational within 12 months.
11:03That hasn't happened.
11:04But given the intensifying infrastructure war
11:07that's taken place between Russia and Ukraine over the past year,
11:10it's understandable why completion has been delayed.
11:13By October 2025,
11:16the site had reportedly already been struck four times by Russian missiles,
11:20causing certain structural damage and material losses,
11:23according to the CEO.
11:25Still, construction continues regardless,
11:28and it makes plenty of sense for Baikar to insist on producing the Kisilelma in Ukraine,
11:33because, as we mentioned,
11:35it's powered by a Ukrainian engine.
11:36However, which particular Ukrainian engine will be used in serial production remains to be seen.
11:42Now, if you appreciate deep dives into emerging weapon systems and technologies,
11:48alongside insightful analysis of the latest military news,
11:51you're in the right place.
11:52That's exactly what we deliver on the military show day in, day out.
11:56Subscribe to the channel and enable notifications so you're always the first to know.
12:01The concept of the Kisilelma was first introduced in 2013,
12:05with detailed specs revealed in 2021.
12:08In the fall of that year,
12:10an integration agreement between Baikar and the Ukrainian engine manufacturer,
12:14Ifchenko Progress,
12:15was signed during the Saha Defense Expo.
12:18So, the intention has always been for the Kisilelma,
12:21and possibly other Turkish advanced drones,
12:24to use Ukrainian engines.
12:25And while Turkey is reportedly exploring alternative options,
12:29as far as anyone can tell,
12:31that remains the case today.
12:33The initial three Kisilelma prototypes use
12:35Ifchenko Progress's AI-25TLT engines
12:39for subsonic flight testing,
12:41aerodynamic validation,
12:43and initial weapon integration.
12:44But starting from the launch of the fourth prototype,
12:47dubbed PT-4,
12:48in May 2025,
12:50the program appears to have transitioned
12:52to the more powerful AI-322F
12:54after-burning engine,
12:56also made by Ifchenko Progress.
12:58It's a move that makes perfect sense
13:00for several good reasons.
13:02For starters,
13:03there's the age of the two engines' designs.
13:05The original Ifchenko AI-25
13:08was developed by the Soviet concern
13:10Ifchenko OKB in Ukraine.
13:12It was designed for the Yakolev Yak-40 trijet aircraft,
13:17often considered to be
13:18the first regional jet transport aircraft.
13:20Development of the engine began in 1965.
13:23The first test flight was made in 1966,
13:26and it was approved for mass production
13:28the following year.
13:29Ukraine-based aircraft engine manufacturer
13:31Motor-Sik,
13:33based near Ifchenko Progress
13:34in the industrial front-line city of Zaporizhia,
13:37continues to produce these engines to this day.
13:40However, as you'd expect,
13:42the variants being produced today
13:43have undergone significant modifications
13:45over the decades.
13:47The most well-known variant in use today
13:49is the AI-25TL.
13:51It was originally developed and designed for use
13:54by the Aero L-39 Albatross military trainer,
13:57which made its maiden flight in 1968.
14:00More than 3,000 Aero L-39 Albatross
14:03were produced in total,
14:05with 2,900 of them
14:06still in active service today.
14:08But the engines on most of those
14:10have subsequently been upgraded.
14:12Ifchenko Progress
14:13has been marketing an upgrade
14:14of the original engine,
14:16the AI-25TL-SH,
14:18since the 1990s.
14:20Another variant of the AI-25TL,
14:23the AI-25TL-K,
14:25was also developed
14:26to power the Chinese Hongdu
14:27JL-8K8 Karakorum jet trainer.
14:31And now,
14:31there's a new addition to the family,
14:33the AI-25TL-T.
14:35It was built specifically
14:37to fulfill the requirement
14:38of a more powerful turbofan engine
14:40to power the Kizil Elmer.
14:42Now, the AI-25TL-T
14:44is a medium-bypass turbofan engine
14:47with a dry weight of around 770 pounds.
14:50Producing around 3,790 pounds of thrust,
14:53it's more than fit for purpose
14:55for training aircraft
14:56and testing prototypes.
14:57But it doesn't pack enough juice
14:59to power the supersonic flight
15:00needed by the Kizil Elmer.
15:02It can only really power speeds
15:04of around Mach 0.8 to Mach 0.9
15:06at the standard cruising altitude
15:08of 35,000 feet,
15:09roughly 528 to 594 miles per hour.
15:13That's why the latest Kizil Elmer prototypes
15:15have used the more powerful AI-322,
15:19and the production version
15:20will likely do so as well.
15:22The AI-322F
15:24is an advanced
15:24after-burning turbofan engine
15:26based on the AI-222-25F,
15:30another rugged Ukrainian engine
15:31manufactured by Ivchenko Progress.
15:34Compared to the AI-25TL-T,
15:36it's much more powerful.
15:38It delivers 5,510 pounds of force
15:41in dry thrust
15:42and up to 9,900 pounds of force
15:44with afterburner engaged,
15:46almost three times more.
15:48This extra power
15:49enables the Kizil Elmer
15:50to achieve supersonic speeds
15:52targeting Mach 1.4 to 1.6
15:55or 924 to 1,056 miles per hour
15:59at 35,000 feet.
16:00And it also enables
16:01the unmanned aircraft
16:02to perform high-G combat maneuvers
16:05just like a modern man-fighter jet.
16:07Now, as noted earlier,
16:08it's unclear which engine
16:09will be used in mass production
16:11of the Kizil Elmer
16:12for the Turkish Air Force and Navy,
16:14the Kizil Elmer's first customers.
16:16However,
16:17due to all the successful tests
16:18during the AI-322F,
16:20it's widely believed
16:21that this will be the engine
16:22powering those deliveries,
16:24as well as those
16:24for the drone's
16:25first confirmed export customer,
16:27Indonesia.
16:28In May 2026,
16:30an agreement
16:31for the delivery
16:31of 12 Kizil Elmer's
16:32was signed
16:33between Baikar
16:34and the Indonesian concern
16:35PT Republic Aero Dirigantara
16:38during the 2026 edition
16:40of the Saha Expo in Istanbul.
16:42The agreement
16:43provides for deliveries
16:44beginning in 2028,
16:46along with the establishment
16:47of localized production
16:48and maintenance
16:49and repair facilities
16:50in Indonesia.
16:51In Indonesia's case,
16:53the drones are likely
16:54to be operated
16:55by the Navy
16:55and integrated
16:56into the air wing
16:57of the aircraft carrier
16:58Giuseppe Garibaldi,
17:00whose transfer to Jakarta
17:02is expected shortly.
17:03The ship,
17:04decommissioned
17:05by the Italian Navy
17:06in 2024,
17:07previously operated
17:08AV-8B Harrier 2 jet,
17:10but modernization plans
17:12are known
17:12to include extensive use
17:13of unmanned systems
17:15like the Kizil Elmer.
17:16The switch
17:17to the more powerful
17:18AI-322F engine
17:20moves the Kizil Elmer
17:21from a prototype
17:22into a deployable asset
17:23that's obviously caught
17:24the Indonesian's attention.
17:26It enables
17:27supersonic speeds,
17:28even at the Kizil Elmer's
17:29maximum take-off weight
17:30of more than
17:3118,700 pounds
17:32with a payload
17:33of up to 3,300 pounds.
17:36But the newer engine
17:37does come with
17:37one or two trade-offs.
17:39It's significantly larger
17:40and heavier
17:41than the AI-25 TLT
17:43with a dry weight
17:44of around 1,234.5 pounds.
17:47The extra size and weight
17:49necessitated design changes
17:50in the Kizil Elmer airframe
17:52to compensate,
17:53such as the larger
17:54air intakes
17:55and reinforced landing gear,
17:56visible on the third prototype.
17:58The AI-322F
18:00also has more than
18:01double the fuel consumption
18:02of the AI-25 TLT,
18:04especially in afterburner mode.
18:071.9 pounds of fuel
18:08per pound of thrust per hour,
18:10compared to around 0.8
18:11for the AI-25 TLT in cruise.
18:14That means the variants
18:15with the newer engine
18:16will have a reduced range,
18:18unless the extra consumption
18:19is compensated for
18:20with larger internal fuel tanks.
18:22But larger internal tanks
18:24would ultimately be
18:25just one more impressive feature
18:27than an already enviable machine.
18:29It's stealthy.
18:30The airframe is specifically
18:32designed for stealth,
18:33featuring a low radar
18:34cross-section design
18:35with a Cunard Delta configuration,
18:37two vertical stabilizers,
18:39and internal weapon compartments
18:41to reduce its signature.
18:42It's also practical.
18:43As evidenced by the intended
18:45Indonesian use,
18:47the Kizil Elmer
18:47is constructed
18:48for carrier-capable operations.
18:50In the Turkish case,
18:52it's been specifically optimized
18:53for use on Turkey-A's flagship
18:55TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship
18:58without needing a catapult system.
19:00And it's advanced.
19:01The aircraft utilizes
19:02an AI-based mission computer
19:04for autonomous taxiing,
19:06takeoff, landing, and flight.
19:08Its sensors are also cutting-edge,
19:10including the Asalsan Murad
19:11ESA radar,
19:13the Carrot Infrared Search
19:14and Track system,
19:15and the aforementioned
19:16Toygon EOTS.
19:17As for its weapons array,
19:19as we've seen,
19:20that's expanding
19:20with each new successful test.
19:22And that lends credence
19:23to Baycar's claim
19:24that the Kizil Elmer
19:26is the world's first
19:27autonomous fighter jet.
19:28Of course,
19:29it doesn't pack the feature set
19:31or awesome power
19:32of the most advanced
19:33Western jets
19:33like the US's F-35 Lightning II.
19:36But the Kizil Elmer's
19:37current feature set
19:38does place it in the same
19:40near 4.5 generation
19:41unmanned fighter capability
19:43ballpark
19:44as say the latest F-16 variant
19:46or Chinese J-10.
19:48But with two major advantages.
19:50Firstly,
19:51while certainly not cheap,
19:52it's likely to be
19:53significantly cheaper
19:54than equivalent man-fighters.
19:56The estimated unit cost
19:57of Kizil Elmer
19:58is projected around
19:59$30 to $40 million
20:00depending on the specifications.
20:03That places it
20:03at a highly competitive price point
20:05compared to the roughly
20:06$85 to $115 million
20:08for a new F-35A
20:10and $80 million
20:11for a new Dassault Rafale.
20:13Even the latest block
20:1470-72 variant
20:16of the F-16
20:17has a unit cost
20:18of anywhere between
20:19$60 and $100 million
20:20depending on the support package.
20:23Secondly,
20:23and most importantly,
20:24there's no pilot.
20:26That means that Kizil Elmer
20:27can be flown
20:28into much more hazardous situations
20:29than an equivalent F-16.
20:31Sure,
20:32if it gets hit,
20:33it's an expensive
20:34and damaging loss.
20:35But nowhere near as expensive
20:36and damaging
20:37as extended search
20:38and rescue operations
20:39for an ejected pilot
20:40of a hit manned fighter jet
20:42or, of course,
20:43losing a pilot entirely.
20:45Given these advantages,
20:46you might suspect
20:47that many nations
20:48are hot on the heels
20:49of the Turks
20:49trying to develop
20:50unmanned fighter jets
20:51of their own.
20:52It is, after all,
20:53a technology
20:54that has the potential
20:55to eventually make
20:56human pilots
20:57altogether obsolete.
20:59But that's not really the case.
21:00Nations like the US,
21:02Australia,
21:02China,
21:03Russia and India
21:04all have unmanned fighter jets
21:05comparable to the Kizil Elmer
21:07in development or testing.
21:08But where the Kizil Elmer
21:10is conceived
21:10as a standalone fighter,
21:12all the others
21:13have a different
21:13primary objective,
21:15a loyal wingman
21:16to manned fighter jets.
21:17The US's Kratos
21:18XQ-58 Valkyrie,
21:20for example,
21:21is designed
21:22to escort manned fighters
21:23like the F-22
21:24and F-35.
21:25It's also subsonic,
21:27Mach 0.85
21:28or roughly 650 miles per hour
21:30and significantly cheaper
21:32at $3 to $4 million
21:33per unit.
21:34Australia
21:35is also testing
21:36a loyal wingman
21:37developed in conjunction
21:38with the US,
21:39the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat.
21:42Designed for sensor fusion
21:43and weapons carriage
21:44alongside manned jets,
21:46it features advanced AI
21:47and stealth characteristics
21:48like the Kizil Elmer.
21:50However,
21:51it's also subsonic
21:52and focuses on teaming
21:53rather than independent
21:54supersonic strike missions.
21:56Russia
21:57is testing
21:58a loyal wingman
21:58of its own,
21:59the Sukhoi S-70
22:01Okhotnik B,
22:02designed to accompany
22:03its Su-57 fighter.
22:05It's a large flying wing drone
22:07in the 20-ton class
22:08with a massive payload capacity
22:09of 2.8 tons
22:11that far exceeds
22:12the Kizil Elmer.
22:13However,
22:14it's also subsonic
22:15and has faced
22:15a development path
22:16at exactly the opposite
22:17end of the spectrum
22:18to the Turkish plane.
22:20It's faced endless issues,
22:21including the loss
22:22of a prototype
22:23in 2024.
22:24The Chinese
22:25also have a loyal wingman
22:27program comparable
22:28to the Kizil Elmer
22:29and theirs is already
22:30operational,
22:31deploying to high-altitude
22:32bases in Tibet
22:33in 2025.
22:35The Hongdu
22:36GJ-11
22:37or Sharp Sword
22:38is a flying wing design
22:39optimized for stealth
22:40rather than the
22:41fighter-like aerodynamics
22:42of the Kizil Elmer.
22:44Like the other
22:44loyal wingmen,
22:45it is subsonic
22:46and carries a heavy
22:47internal payload
22:48like the S-70.
22:49But while it's capable
22:50of deep penetration
22:51strikes on its own,
22:52it's also primarily
22:53meant to function
22:54as a wingman
22:55to Chinese fighter jets.
22:56There is one
22:57actual direct competitor
22:59to the Kizil Elmer
23:00in development,
23:01i.e. an unmanned aircraft
23:02intended to be a fighter jet
23:04rather than a wingman.
23:05India's future
23:06unmanned fighter aircraft
23:08or FUFA.
23:09Intended as a
23:10supersonic air dominance drone,
23:12it aims for supersonic speeds
23:13of greater than
23:14Mach 1.5
23:15and air-to-air combat capabilities
23:17like the Kizil Elmer.
23:19But it's way behind
23:20on the development curve
23:21compared to its Turkish rival.
23:23In fact,
23:23it's still in the design phase.
23:25So for now,
23:26the Kizil Elmer
23:27stands out
23:27as the world's first
23:28and only unmanned fighter jet.
23:30Pilots can rest easy
23:31knowing that,
23:32unlike so many other professions,
23:34AI isn't going to make
23:35their jobs obsolete.
23:37At least,
23:37not quite yet.
23:39Now,
23:39given the relentless pace
23:40of development
23:41of the Kizil Elmer,
23:42there are bound to be
23:43new tests
23:43and new capabilities
23:44unveiled in the near future.
23:46We'll of course
23:47be keeping you updated
23:48on development,
23:49so subscribe to the channel
23:50to hear about them first
23:51and in the meantime,
23:53check out this video
23:54about how Ukraine
23:55is building a robot army.
23:56of the Kizil Elmer.
23:56movie.
23:57Film
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