Turkey’s next-generation unmanned combat aircraft enters production line

News March 15, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Turkish defense firm Baykar Technologies unveiled its “Bayraktar Kizilelma” Muharip Insansiz Ucak Sistemi (MIUS), also called National Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle System, as the aircraft entered the final assembly line.

The Chief Technology Officer at Baykar Technologies, Selcuk Bayraktar said in a statement that MIUS “will always carry us forward and into the future.”

“Manned warplanes will no longer be developed. From now on, the most powerful elements of the battlefield will be unmanned systems,” Bayraktar added.

Turkey’s unmanned future aircraft is set to become one of the most powerful jets on the battlefield. According to the company’s release, the MIUS unmanned combat aircraft will have an advanced AI system and aggressive maneuvers. It will also be able to carry out air-to-air combat like manned fighter jets.

*^{Infographic of Turkey’s MIUS unmanned combat aircraft. (Image Credit: Baykar Technologies)}*

“With the 5th generation fighters, the world is witnessing the end of manned fighters. No new manned combat aircraft will be developed. Unmanned systems will increasingly become the strongest elements on the battlefield in the future. We are also trying to ensure our country’s presence in future competitions,” the Turkish company’s chief technology officer said.

The next-generation Turkish unmanned jet will also have the capability to land and take off on ships with short runways and is expected to play a critical role in the country’s overseas missions.

The turbofan engine aircraft is capable of flying for 5 hours with a 500-nanometre mission radius and can reach the speed of Mach 0.8. It will be equipped with the AESA radar, developed by Turkish defense firm Aselsan and have high situational awareness.

*^{Artist rendering of Turkey’s Bayraktar Kizilema (MIUS) unmanned combat aircraft. (Image Credit: Baykar Technologies)}*

The aircraft has 6 tons of takeoff weight and it can carry a payload of up to 1500 kilograms. According to the company, the later prototypes of the jet will be able to fly at supersonic speeds.

The MIUS unmanned jet will be equipped with SOM-J next-generation, stealth, high precision cruise missiles with a range of more than 250 kilometers for surface warfare as well as laser-guided Smart Micro Munitions.