We are looking at a machine that could achieve a military milestone: the first air combat between an autonomous fighter and a human pilot.
While Europe debates whether to enter the conflict with its troops to support Ukraine, and the US and Russia are picking at the details of that alleged peace agreement where actors are missing, the war continues in the east. In fact, Ukraine currently manufactures weapons “faster and cheaper” than anywhere else in Europe, and that is a problem for the old continent, as the Danish Prime Minister recently explained. However, of all the updates that are expected, none is as significant as a “package” that would arrive from Turkey.
A milestone and a major one. Earlier in the week, a Ukrainian reconnaissance brigade published a video showing a highly significant event in the conflict: the destruction of one of Russia’s prized S-350 Vityaz air defense systems in the Donetsk region. In this way, Ukraine struck the first example of Russia’s S-350 ground-based air defense system since the start of the invasion. We are talking about one of Moscow’s most advanced surface-to-air missile systems, which has only rarely been deployed in the conflict.
However, this milestone may soon pass us by. Even war, as it is known and waged these days, could change completely. If a few weeks ago we reported that the conflict had entered its deranged phase between drones, and later there was the first combined offensive in history without humans, the next thing could be an army of “fighters” between very different sides. From Turkey they seem to have given the green light to this possibility: a first air combat between unmanned machines against human pilots.
Kizilelma: what are we talking about? We are looking at an autonomous stealth fighter developed by Baykar, the Turkish company responsible for the Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones, which entered the mass production phase with an initial output of 12 units in 2024. Equipped with Ukrainian engines AI-322F and AI-25TLT, it is the supersonic drone that symbolizes the close collaboration between Turkey and Ukraine, both in technological and political terms.
Now, after passing all the tests and with mass production underway, the fighter, the first Turkish autonomous jet, is ready to engage in combat. In other words, we are looking at an aircraft that is shaping up to be a potential game-changer in conflict. Its debut in the Ukrainian skies could mark a historic moment: that first air combat between an autonomous fighter and a human pilot, anticipating a radical transformation in modern warfare.
Power and cutting-edge technology. The Kizilelma is an autonomous fighter capable of taking off and landing without human intervention and operating from short runways or small aircraft carriers without catapults, a capability that sets it apart from its Western competitors such as the MQ-28 Ghost Bat and the XQ-58 Valkyrie. Its design reduces its radar profile, although it does not qualify as an “invisible” aircraft.
In terms of firepower, Kizilelma has a payload capacity of 1,500 kg, less than the US MQ-20 Avenger (2,900 kg), but sufficient to carry precision-guided munitions and air-to-air missiles that would allow it to intercept Russian manned fighters.
Speed and performance. The fighter is distinguished by its speed and agility, key factors in aerial combat. The initial version reaches a speed close to Mach 1 (1,100 km/h), surpassing any conventional drone. The second version, equipped with a Ukrainian AI-322F engine with afterburner, is expected to break the sound barrier, entering the category of supersonic fighters.
Its ceiling of 12,000 meters is lower than that of the Avenger (15,240 meters), but its design and maneuverability make it a more flexible platform for offensive and defensive operations, combining autonomy and speed in a single system.
Ukrainian connection. The relationship between Baykar and the Ukrainian government goes back a long way. The Turkish company uses Ukrainian engines in the Kizilelma and, according to Reuters, plans to open a factory in Ukraine this year, the first outside Turkey. Moreover, Baykar’s stance is openly pro-Ukrainian, having rejected economic proposals from other countries in exchange for military technology.
Therefore, the role of the Kizilelma in the conflict could be crucial. Its deployment in Ukraine would allow Kiev to compensate for the numerical inferiority of its air fleet against Russian fighters without exposing human pilots to danger. In addition, its potential for autonomous aerial combat would make it the perfect weapon for attrition operations, where the key will be artificial intelligence and the volume of units deployed.
A rival for the West. Unlike other combat drones, the Kizilelma is an aircraft designed to face manned fighters in direct combat. As we said before, while the United States and China have developed advanced drones such as the MQ-28 Ghost Bat and the Dark Sword, the Turkish fighter has already reached series production, surpassing its competitors in operational availability.
The aircraft also has the advantage of being more affordable than a manned fighter, making it ideal for countries looking to modernize their air forces without relying on extremely expensive fighters such as the famous F-35. Although its price has not yet been revealed, it is likely to be significantly cheaper than its US equivalents, making it extremely attractive for export.
The future of warfare. We have already discussed this. The war in Ukraine has become a laboratory for offensives that have changed the military perspective in conflicts. Kizilelma symbolizes the future of these military conflicts dominated, in this case, by autonomous aircraft. In a world where aerial combat will be defined by AI and the number of units deployed, Turkey seems to have taken a step forward by launching an autonomous fighter with real combat capability and mass production. Plus: that supersonic speed label that would change everything a little more.
There is no doubt that its arrival in Ukraine could tip the air balance in the conflict. Russia, which still depends to a large extent on manned fighters and conventional anti-air defenses, would face a new threat that would be difficult to counter. With its speed, autonomy and combat capacity, the “made in Turkey” seems ready to change modern warfare.
