Baykar to Begin Serial Deliveries of Kızılelma UCAV in 2026

Turkish drone giant Baykar is preparing to enter a bold new chapter in its history. The company’s CEO, Haluk Bayraktar, confirmed that serial deliveries of the Bayraktar Kızılelma unmanned combat aircraft are expected to begin before the end of 2026. The announcement came during the SAHA 2026 Expo, one of the most significant defense industry gatherings in the world, and it sent a clear signal to global defense markets that Türkiye is no longer just a rising power it has arrived.

What Is the Bayraktar Kızılelma?

The Kızılelma, which translates to “Red Apple” in Turkish, is not just another drone. It represents the most advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) Baykar has ever built. The aircraft first took to the skies in December 2022 and has since completed an extensive schedule of flight tests. Unlike many defense programs around the world that showcase early-stage concepts at exhibitions, Baykar only presents platforms that are actively flying a standard the company takes seriously.

What makes Kızılelma truly stand out is its combat capability. Last year, during a live trial, the aircraft became the first unmanned combat aircraft in the world to successfully hit an air-to-air target using missiles. The radar used in that test was developed by Turkish defense electronics firm Aselsan, and the air-to-air missiles were produced by TÜBİTAK SAGE. That single milestone changed the global conversation around unmanned aerial warfare.

Serial Production Is Now Within Reach

Speaking at the SAHA 2026 Expo’s Technology Desk, Bayraktar was direct about the company’s timeline. “We aim to carry out the first serial deliveries within this year,” he said. This is a significant step for a platform that has spent the past few years in intensive testing. Moving from test flights to full serial production is no small feat, and it reflects the depth of engineering capability Baykar has quietly built over the past two decades.

The aircraft is largely domestically produced. Bayraktar confirmed that all major systems except the engine have been developed within Türkiye. Work on domestic turbofan engine development is actively ongoing, both through Tusaş Engine Industries (TEI) and through Baykar’s own internal projects, which means even that final dependency is being addressed.

First Export Deal Signed with Indonesia

One of the biggest announcements at SAHA 2026 was the signing of Kızılelma’s very first export agreement. Indonesia, which Bayraktar revealed had been pushing for a deal for nearly a year, became the launch export customer. The agreement covers 12 Bayraktar Kızılelma aircraft, with deliveries targeted to begin in 2028.

Baykar’s approach to this deal is telling. The company deliberately held off on signing any export contracts until the aircraft had completed testing and initial domestic deliveries were secured. “This is historically significant,” Bayraktar said. For a company known for strategic patience, the timing was deliberate and the message was clear: Baykar does not sell promises, it sells proven platforms.

Türkiye’s Defense Industry Has Been Transformed

To understand where Kızılelma fits, it helps to look at the broader picture. In 2002, Türkiye had roughly 20 defense companies. Today, that number has grown to more than 3,000. Defense exports have jumped from $250 million to over $10 billion last year, with a target of $13 billion set for 2026. These are not marginal gains they represent a complete industrial transformation.

SAHA Istanbul, the defense and aerospace industry cluster that Bayraktar chairs, was founded in 2015 with just 27 members. It now has over 1,300 members and includes more than 30 universities. Bayraktar described it as Europe’s largest industrial cluster, and at this year’s SAHA expo, more than 196 signing ceremonies took place, generating $8 billion in export agreements.

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Domestic Engines and Supply Chain Strength

Baykar is also expanding its engine production capabilities rapidly. The company now manufactures all engines used in its loitering munitions domestically. A mass-production line is being established with the goal of producing thousands of engines annually. For the Bayraktar TB2, engine production has been fully localized after years of relying on imports. The TB3, meanwhile, is being paired with a turbo-diesel engine developed by TEI.

This focus on supply chain resilience is not accidental. Embargoes and component restrictions imposed on Türkiye in past years forced faster domestic development. As Bayraktar put it, those pressures became opportunities.

A Vision Beyond Weapons

Despite all the defense milestones, Bayraktar closed his remarks with a broader vision. Baykar plans to establish drone and education centers across all 81 Turkish provinces, and aims to create a public drone park in Istanbul where young people can build, test, and fly drones freely.

For a company at the cutting edge of military technology, that investment in youth and education may prove to be its most important long-term play yet.

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