ISLAMABAD: Turkey marked a significant advancement in its indigenousdefence capabilities on the final day of 2025 when the Bayraktar Kızılelmaunmanned combat aerial vehicle successfully completed a test flightintegrated with ASELSAN’s KARAT Infrared Search and Track system. Thisdevelopment, announced by Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar, enables passivetarget detection and tracking without emitting radar signals, substantiallyenhancing stealth, survivability and situational awareness in modern aerialcombat. The milestone underscores Turkey’s rapid progress in developingnext-generation unmanned fighter technology.
The KARAT IRST system represents a critical passive sensor designedspecifically for manned and unmanned fighter platforms including theKızılelma. Unlike active radar systems that can reveal a platform’sposition, KARAT operates by detecting the infrared signatures of airbornethreats such as fighter jets and missiles. Defence analysts note that thiscapability provides immunity to electronic warfare jamming and allowsengagements in contested environments where radar emissions must beminimised.
Experts familiar with the programme highlight that the successfulintegration of KARAT elevates the Kızılelma beyond a conventional unmannedjet to a sophisticated autonomous combat platform. The system supportsmulti-target tracking with wide scanning areas and rapid response timeswhile maintaining compatibility with the aircraft’s low-observable design.ASELSAN officials have emphasised that KARAT enables direct guidance ofair-to-air munitions, further expanding the Kızılelma’s offensive potential.
This achievement builds on a series of rapid advancements throughout 2025for the Kızılelma programme. Earlier milestones included integration of theMURAD AESA radar, successful beyond-visual-range air-to-air missileengagements with the Gökdoğan system and historic autonomousclose-formation flights between multiple prototypes. These tests, conductedat facilities such as the Akıncı Flight Training and Test Center,demonstrate Baykar’s commitment to iterative development and operationalmaturity.
The Kızılelma, entirely funded through Baykar’s internal resources, hasprogressed from its maiden flight in late 2022 to mass production readinessby late 2024. The platform is engineered for carrier operations aboardvessels like the TCG Anadolu and is intended to serve as a loyal wingmanalongside manned fighters such as the upcoming KAAN fifth-generationaircraft. Its provisions for advanced survivability suites includingdistributed aperture systems further reinforce its role in high-threatscenarios.
Strategic analysts observe that passive IRST capabilities like KARATprovide a decisive edge in beyond-visual-range and within-visual-rangeengagements. By avoiding radar emissions, the Kızılelma can approachthreats undetected, execute strikes and disengage with reduced risk ofcounter-detection. This aligns with global trends toward stealth and sensorfusion in sixth-generation air combat concepts.
Turkey’s defence industry has positioned the Kızılelma as a flagshipproject under the National Technology Initiative. The successful KARATintegration not only validates years of collaborative research betweenBaykar and ASELSAN but also strengthens Turkey’s export potential in thegrowing unmanned combat aerial vehicle market. Several countries havealready expressed interest in the platform following its demonstratedperformance.
Read Top Stories
The test flight conducted on December 31, 2025, concluded a highlyproductive year for the programme. Prototypes demonstrated coordinatedoperations and advanced autonomy algorithms during the final sortie. Baykarengineers continue to refine the system for future multi-platformcoordinated missions, potentially transforming regional air power dynamics.
This milestone reflects Turkey’s strategic focus on technologicalself-reliance in defence. With export revenues consistently exceedingdomestic sales, Baykar’s achievements contribute significantly to thenational economy while enhancing military capabilities. The integration ofKARAT IRST is expected to accelerate final operational clearance and serialproduction phases in the coming period.
Source: https://www.defenceturk.net/kizilelma-karat-ile-havalandi
Tags: Turkey, Bayraktar Kızılelma, ASELSAN, KARAT IRST
ogimageimage-name