Military & Secret Tech

Satellite images observed by Naval News show the Russian Navy special purpose submarine RFS Khabarovsk in the water, moored at a quay at the Sevmash shipyard in Severodvinsk. While the ceremonial launch took place on November 1st, the submarine actually entered the water around November 30, 2025.

Previously, the submarine was observed located at the slipway outside factory hall number 1 where it was rolled out on November 1st, following a construction period that lasted a decade. The rolling out ceremony was attended by several high ranking profiles including the Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov; the Commander of the Russian Navy Admiraal Alexander Moiseyev, the Director-General of the United Shipbuilding Cooperation Andrey Puchkov and the director of the Sevmash shipyard Mikhail Budnichenko.

The submarine is classified as a special purpose submarine designed and build to launch the nuclear powered ‘Poseidon’ torpedo’s and is currently only one of two submarines capable of launching such torpedo’s with the other submarine being the special purpose submarine RFS Belgorod. Russia previously announced that it has tested these torpedo’s near the Novaya Zemlya Archipelago, reporting that these torpedo’s functioned as intended.

During the roll-out, the propulsion unit of the submarine was covered in sails to prevent direct observation and ensure secrecy. Though the submarine was rolled out of the construction hall on November 1st, the submarine spend several weeks outside on the slipway before finally being placed in the water. During this time, construction was still ongoing with satellite images showing a shed placed on top of the aft hatch, directly aft the sail, and sails covering the bow to prevent observation of the outer torpedo doors. 

Special purpose submarine Khabarovsk

The submarine was designed by the Rubin design bureau and appears to be based on the design of a Borei-A class nuclear ballistic missile submarine. Unlike conventional Russian nuclear submarines, the Khabarovsk is described by Russian sources as a special purpose submarine and can’t be classified as a nuclear attack submarine or a ballistic missile submarine. Instead, the Khabarovsk is designed and build to execute a very specific task, namely launch Status-6 ‘Poseidon’ nuclear torpedo’s.

These torpedo’s are nuclear powered, giving them in theory unlimited range, and are capable of carrying a nuclear warhead of up to two megaton. This weapon is a strategic asset for Russia, allowing it to be fired safely from Russian bastion areas and travel to enemy coastal regions. These torpedo’s are primarily to be used to strike coastal facilities such as important harbours and naval bases, rather then to be used to attack fleet formation on the high seas.

Given their nuclear capabilities in both propulsion and payload, the Status-6 ‘Poseidon’ torpedo is significantly larger then a regular torpedo, measuring 20 meters in length and 2 meters in diameter, meaning that no regular submarine is able to store and launch these weapons.

Khabarovsk is specifically designed to carry and launch several of these torpedo’s and as such, as an unique torpedo room to store and launch the Status-6 ‘Poseidon’ torpedo. It is believed that the submarine can hold up to six of these nuclear torpedo’s.

The Rubin design bureau appears to have based the Khabarovsk on the Borei-A class nuclear submarines, opting to remove the aft compartments that houses the ballistic nuclear missiles and redesign the front section to house the unique oversized torpedo room. Observation of satellite imagery shows that the Khabarovsk comes in to around 136 meters in length, roughly 20 meters shorter then a regular Borei-A class submarine.

By basing the design of the Khabarovsk on the Borei-A class, the Russian Navy opted to take a pragmatic approach. This choice allowed Russia to speed up construction of the Khabarovsk as the Sevmash shipyard could make use of the skilled workforce and supply of parts that were already in use for building the series of Borei-A class ballistic missile submarines for the Northern and Pacific Fleets.

Russia might be working on a third submarine capable of launching the Status-6 ‘Poseidon’ torpedo. This submarine, identified as the Ulyanovsk was laid down in 2017 and is allegedly based on the Yasen-M class.Russia might be working on a third submarine capable of launching the Status-6 ‘Poseidon’ torpedo. This submarine, identified as the Ulyanovsk was laid down in 2017 and is allegedly based on the Yasen-M class.

Strategic implications for the West

Cutaway illustration of Poseidon, based on analysis of images released by Russia. The nuclear reactor heats water to steam which then drives a steam turbine. This is similar to nuclear submarines.

The Khabarovsk and her weapon systems are clearly strategic assets meant to complement the current nuclear deterrent of the Russian Navy. Since the Status-6 ‘Poseidon’ torpedo is nuclear powered, these weapons can be launched from safe zones near the Russian coast, so called Bastion areas, where the submarine is protected by its fleet and land based assets. Once launched, the torpedo can in theory strike any coastal target in the world. So far, there is no report on how these torpedo’s can be countered which means that Russia has a strategic advantage by fielding these weapons in active service.

It is unknown where Khabarovsk will be based. In 2023, TASS reported that both the Khabarovsk as the Belgorod would be deployed in the Pacific Fleet with special facilities being constructed at Kamchatka. No additional news regarding these construction works were later reported, suggesting that these plans were shelved due, probably due to financial reasons as Russia is getting more hard pressed in financing its war against Ukraine.

Basing these two submarines in the Pacific Ocean would also make little sense given the fact that Russia’s main adversary is NATO and as such favours an Atlantic Ocean first approach. Basing both submarines in the Northern Fleet allows Russia to strike targets in Western Europe and the US eastern seaboard where most of its important harbours are located. It would also allow both submarines to benefit from operating in the Barents Sea where Russia recently installed its Harmony array, providing additional security and freedom of operations for its submarine force.

New week. New month. Here’s what you need to know this Monday evening, December 1, 2025.

I was on a mission for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Ukraine in May of 2022 — four months following Putin’s failed attempt to take control of the central government in Kyiv by force. I saw firsthand the lingering impact of the massacre of civilians — a war crime — as well as the massive damage done to civil infrastructure, particularly the major bridges that were destroyed to deny Russian forces access to the national capital.

Fincantieri, through its Underwater Technology Center, will supply the Italian Navy with a highly versatile support vessel designed to accommodate a wide spectrum of missions, including complex underwater operations.

Fincantieri press release

The vessel’s modular configuration and generous internal volume enable rapid reconfiguration for various operational roles, providing the Navy with a flexible and adaptable platform tailored to evolving requirements.

The vessel will undergo upgrades at the Group’s shipyard in Palermo , with the aim of transforming it into a technologically advanced platform fully integrated into the national capabilities system. The project is part of a process aimed at strengthening Italy’s presence in the increasingly strategic maritime domain through modular and scalable solutions. 

Fincantieri is moving toward a role as an orchestrator of highly complex technologies , capable of operating from surface to seabed, from hardware to software. This initiative confirms the Group’s commitment to consolidating its leading role in naval innovation, developing technologies that combine flexibility, safety, and interoperability, and strengthening its ability to respond rapidly and in an integrated manner to the needs of the country, with an industrial vision geared toward technological sovereignty and innovation.

Pierroberto Folgiero , CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri , commented: ” This project demonstrates Fincantieri’s role as a technological enabler serving the country’s economic system, capable of combining operational speed, innovation, and industrial vision. Through versatile and reconfigurable solutions, particularly in the underwater field, we continue to strengthen our ability to respond in an integrated and effective manner to the needs of the Navy, contributing to the development of an increasingly strategic technological sovereignty for Italy .” 

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A Fireplace Built on Comfortable Fantasy
Our scene glows warm enough to lull anyone into thinking the world outside is civilized and predictable. Spoiler alert: It’s not. 

On the night of November 28 the Ukrainian armed forces deployed so-called Sea Baby Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) in the Black Sea and specifically attacked two tankers, believed to be part of Russia’s alleged shadow fleet. This fleet, made up of aging oil tankers flying under flags of convenience, is used by Russia to circumvent the oil embargo’s that has been put in place by Western countries.

The Ukrainian drones struck the oil tankers Kairos and Virat in the vicinity if the Turkish Straits. Both vessels were empty at the time of the attack and heading towards the Russian oil terminal located at Novorossiysk to load oil. The Kiaros was coming from Egypt and was attacked 28 nautical miles offshore the Turkish coast. The vessel suffered an explosion and fire, disabling the vessel. The second vessel, Virat, was struck near the engine room but is reported as in stable condition.

With these strikes, the Ukrainians are opening a new phase in the maritime war in the Black Sea whereby Ukrainian USVs are targeting Shadow Fleet tankers, possibly to dissuade other ships belonging to the Shadow Fleet to no longer head to Russian ports.

So far, no major reactions were recorded expect for Kazakhstan and Turkey. Kazakhstan complaints are however directed against the Ukrainian drone attacks that disabled the CPC oil terminal at Novorossiysk. This terminal is a major outlet not only for Russian but also counts for 80% Kazakh crude exports.

Turkey’s response was aimed to the fact that both Ukrainian USV attacks took place within Turkey’s Exclusive E Economic Zone (EEZ), posing a risk to navigation, life, property, and environmental safety.  In both attacks, Turkish rescue services had to intervene to control the fire and damage and rescue the crew. In the case of the Kiaros, the rescue vessels Kurtama-12 and Nene Hatun had to be deployed.

Russia strongly condemned the attacks but so far has not been able to formulate a strong response to the Ukrainian drone attacks.

The attacks coincided with a third incident, involving the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Mersin, which started sinking near the coast of Dakar, Senegal. This tanker reportedly docked at Taman, Russia, in August and then headed for Togo. The vessel then remained stationary near Senegal with a last AIS signal reported on November 25. No official cause of the sinking was reported, leaving it unknown if the tanker suffered mechanical problems or was sabotaged.

A new phase in the maritime war

It appears that Ukraine is testing the waters and see if the direct attacks against the Shadow Fleet will meet relevant opposition. Should such opposition lack, it might encourage Ukraine to step up its attack and keep attacking Shadow Fleet tankers as they pass through the Black Sea. By striking the Shadow Fleet tankers in the Black Sea, Ukraine is hoping to impose a blockade of Russian oil exports in the Black Sea, putting further economic pressure on the Kremlin following regular strikes against Russia’s energy sector such as power grids and refineries.

So far, opposition against the Ukrainian USV attack is lacking though with only Turkey, Kazakhstan and Russia specifically condemning the attacks. Given the fact that Turkey is an important partner for Ukraine both in military cooperation and political support in the form of mediation between Ukraine and Russia;  Ukraine will possibly take Turkey’s objections in account and could refrain from striking Shadow Fleet tankers as they pass through the Turkish EEZ. However, Ukrainian drones have proven to have the necessary range to reach and attack targets inside the Russian EEZ of the Black Sea.

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet forced to intervene?

Russian Black Sea Fleet’s loses on the naval front of the war (Credit: Author)

Should Ukraine continue to attack Shadow Fleet tankers, the main question will be how Russia will respond. Throughout the war, the Russian Black See Fleet has been struggling to defend itself against Ukrainian naval attacks in the Black Sea Fleet. From March 2022 to May 2024, the Ukrainians were able to cause significant damage to the Black Sea Fleet through the use of missiles and drones. Over the course of two years, the Ukrainians succeeded in sinking or destroying the Slava-class cruiser RFS Moskva, the Improved Kilo-class submarine RFS Rostov-on-Don, the Bykov-class patrol boat RFS Sergey Bykov, the Tarantul-class missile boat RFS Ivanovets, and the Karakurt-class corvette RFS Tsiklon while the Karakurt-class corvette RFS Ashkold has been so thoroughly damaged that a return to service seems unlikely.

This maritime campaign succeeded in pushing the Black Sea Fleet out of the waters near Crimea and forced the fleet to relocate from Sevastopol to the Russian naval base at Novorossiysk. From there, the fleet largely remains in port, only venturing out for small patrols and Kalibr missile strikes against targets deep in Ukraine. But even in those circumstances, Ukrainian drones remain capable of attacking the Black Sea Fleet. Recent attacks took place in the Sea of Azov with Ukrainian drones targeting the radars on board of Russian warships. Though such attacks don’t sink a ship, the constitute as a so-called “soft kill” whereby the vessel has sustained damage at critical systems, rendering it no longer combat effective.

With Ukraine now directly attacking the Shadow Fleet, the Black Sea Fleet could be ordered to sail out and provide protection to tankers moving to and from Russian ports. Currently, the Black Sea Fleet can count on two Grigorovich-class frigates, two Krivak-class frigates, two Buyan-M-class corvettes, two Tarantul-class missile boats, two Bora-class hovercraft, six Grisha-class anti-submarine corvettes, and three Bykov-class patrol boats. In theory, these numbers are sufficient to provide a strong escort for any tankers heading to and from Russian ports at the Black Sea Fleet.

However it remains doubtful if the Black Sea Fleet has the practical skills to execute such escorts. The fleet has been largely confined to port at Novorossiysk, leaving little room for actual training. If the maritime campaign of 2022-2024 is any indication, warships of the Black Sea Fleet appear to be unable to defend themselves during this period as Ukraine preferred to attack ships operating on their own without nearby back-up. Any escort mission the Black Sea Fleet will undertake would therefore require the allocation of several warships simultaneously in order to provide some form of mutual support against Ukrainian drone attacks. Coordination of several vessels simultaneously during a drone attack can be hectic and difficult to pull off even with a streamlined command and trained crew. Also, once at sea, the vessels of the Black Sea Fleet will become a lot more vulnerable to UAV attacks as they operated beyond the range of land based air defense systems. This would significantly expand the scope of operations that the Black Sea Fleet would face once it starts escorting tankers as it has to content with both a seaborne and airborne threat.

Should the Black Sea Fleet commit to escorting tankers, we can speculate that Ukraine will jump on the opportunity to disable and sink several more Russian warships by setting op coordinated and overwhelming drone strikes against the Russian warships. Given the fact that Ukraine has access to Western intelligence, it could receive advanced warning when the Black Sea Fleet would venture out and where its ships are located at sea. NATO observation aircraft are being deployed over the Black Sea at a regular basis, monitoring the maritime situation and collecting intelligence.

So far, the Russian solution has been to instruct vessels to turn off their AIS broadcasts or no longer have them broadcast to which port they are heading. These measures only provide limited protection since these tankers have to pass through the Turkish Straits and have only a very limited amount of ports where they can go to. Any Ukrainian operative in Istanbul can visually observe if Shadow Fleet tankers are entering the Black Sea and report their passage. Given the limited amount of oil terminals, the routes these tankers take is generally known, as well as their general speed. All these factors would allow Ukraine to track and calculate where these tankers could be located once they have entered the Black Sea and then figure out when they cross into the Russian EEZ. USVs could potentially be used in the Turkish EEZ to shadow these tankers and provide Ukraine with real-time updates on their location and heading.

On November 18, 2025, the French Navy (Marine Nationale) frigate Amiral Ronarc’h carried out a replenishment at sea (RAS) with the replenishment tanker (BRF) Jacques Chevallier. The event involved two of the newest surface units of the French fleet, the FDI Frigate and the new BRF, and marked the first RAS for an FDI.

French Navy press release – Translated by Naval News

Replenishment at sea is an essential maneuver for naval operations, as it allows a ship to take on diesel fuel, aviation fuel, equipment, and supplies, while also offloading waste when port calls are not possible, such as during deployments in crisis areas.

This RAS enabled the Amiral Ronarc’h, which recently arrived in the Mediterranean to conduct various trials, to test its installations in order to verify their compatibility and resistance to the flow rates delivered by the BRF, as well as to train its crew in the different phases of the maneuver, both on the bridge and in the engine room.

This unprecedented training involving the two newest units of the fleet therefore allowed the FDI to validate its ability to carry out this maneuver as part of its operational readiness phase, a crucial step before its first deployment.

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About BRF / Chevallier-class Replenishment Tanker

Credit: French Navy

With a length of 194 metres and a displacement of 31,000 tonnes when fully loaded, the BRF type supply ships can carry up to 13,000m³ of fuel, as well as provisions, ammunition and spare parts. It is capable of simultaneously refuelling two vessels thanks to its four lateral transfer stations and refuelling masts capable of handling solid cargo weighing up to 2.5 tonnes. These enhanced logistical support capabilities significantly improve the autonomy of the naval air group and forces deployed on the high seas.

The vessel is also equipped with modern equipment that makes it fully capable of operating in degraded environments. Its integrated combat system, close self-defence capabilities, communications and support facilities make the BRF a versatile platform, capable of carrying out refuelling and support missions.

The first ship-in-class, Jacques Chevallier, was delivered in July 2023, while the second BRF, Jacques Stosskopf, was handed over to the French Navy in November 2025.

Main characteristics of the BRF vessels

Gross tonnage: 28,700 GRTDisplacement at full load: 31,000 tonnesOverall length: 194 mOverall width: 27.60 mCrew capacity: 190 people (including 130 crew members and capacity for 60 passengers)Total deadweight: 14,870 tonnesFreight volume: 13,000 m3Total installed capacity: 24 MWArtillery: 40 mm gunsPolaris® Combat Management System

Check out our video coverage of the BRF:

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About FDI

The keel laying of the first FDI took place in December 2021 and the launch in November 2022. The next five ships in the series (three for the Hellenic Navy and two for the French Navy) are expected be delivered before (or right after) 2030. The Naval Group shipyard in Lorient has been totally revamped to be able to scale up production and deliver two FDI frigates per year. The construction cycle for one frigate takes about 3 years. Two frigates can be produced in parallel.

A total of five vessels are set to be delivered to France (three hulls already on order, the remaining two ships will be ordered later on). In addition, three frigates are currently under construction for Greece, with an option for a fourth unit which was enforced last month.

Lastly, Naval Group is pitching the FDI to Sweden, Denmark, as well as to Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

Technical specifications:

displacement: 4,500 tons

length: 122 meters

beam: 18 meters

max. speed: 27 knots

autonomy: 45 days

operational availability: 3,500 hours per year

accomodation: 125-persons crew + 28 passengers

aviation facility: 10 ton-class helicopter, VTOL unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

The main weapon systems of the FDI (French Navy configuration) are:

Non-lethal weapon systems

16 Aster surface to air missiles developed by MBDA

8 Exocet MM40 Block 3c anti-ship missiles developed by MBDA

MU 90 torpedoes developed by Naval Group

76 mm gun

2 Narwhal 20mm remote weapon stations

4 torpedo tubes

CANTO counter measures developed by Naval Group

Check out our exclusive video coverage aboard Amiral Ronarc’h recorded in February 2025:

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The Philippines and France staged a joint maritime exercise in the latest effort by both militaries to improve interoperability and maritime domain awareness. Military of both countries said the drills took place in a “strategic location”.

The Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) was held from Nov. 26 to 28 in the southern part of eastern Mindanao in the Philippines, “a strategic maritime area for both navies,” according to a joint statement by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia.

“The Celebes Sea is a strategic location for our partner, the Philippines. For us, it’s a good area for training and increasing our interoperability. The French Carrier Strike Group operated here at the beginning of 2025. It is an important maritime shipping route when coming from Lombok,” the French Armed Forces in French Polynesia told Naval News.

France, it added, is the only European nation with territory in the Pacific—New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and Wallis and Futuna—and its activities aim “to preserve stability and respect for international law.”

The Philippines deployed patrol ship BRP Artemio Ricarte (PS-37), a Philippine Air Force C-208B aircraft, a Black Hawk helicopter and three FA-50 light fighters. France sent a French Floréal-class surveillance frigate (which Naval News understands to be Tahiti-based FS Prairial) and a Dauphin AS365 helicopter.

Exercises included division tactical maneuvers to improve coordination; officer-of-the-watch drills to test navigation, formation changes and command execution; and a replenishment-at-sea approach, the statement said.

“The joint activity is expected to further strengthen mutual trust, operational familiarity and maritime cooperation as both countries continue to work together for regional stability,” the two militaries added.

The drills coincided with the Nov. 26 visit of Brig. Gen. Mickael Le Cam, Director for Asia Pacific at the French Ministry of Armed Forces’ Defense Armament Directorate, to the Philippine Navy headquarters. Le Cam and Philippine Navy vice commander Maj. Gen. Edwin Amadar discussed potential collaboration, technical solutions, and initiatives to support the Navy’s modernization program, the Philippine Navy said.

Negotiations for a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement that would allow joint military exercises on each other’s territory are in the final stages, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said in October. Formal talks began in Paris in June 2025.

The Philippines has similar agreements with the United States, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Canada, and is in preliminary talks with the United Kingdom.

France has increased its defense engagement with Manila in recent years. In February, the French Carrier Strike Group made an unprecedented visit to the Philippines as part of Mission CLEMENCEAU 25.

The Philippines also recently held joint naval exercises with India and Japan in the West Philippine Sea, Manila’s exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea.  On Nov. 29, the AFP deployed the BRP Antonio Luna (FF-151), a Philippine Navy AW159 helicopter and a Philippine Air Force C-208B surveillance aircraft, while Japan sent the JS Harusame (DD-102) and an SH-60K helicopter.

On Nov. 26, the AFP also conducted drills involving the BRP Jose Rizal, FA-50 light fighters and a W-3A Sokol search-and-rescue helicopter, alongside India’s INS Sahyadri, a guided-missile frigate equipped with its own helicopter.

On November 30, 2025, Türkiye’s drone manufacturer Baykar announced that the Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned fighter jet successfully engaged and destroyed an aerial target using the indigenously developed GÖKDOGAN air-to-air missile. KIZILELMA is expected to operate aboard Turkish Navy’s flagship, TCG Anadolu, as well as the MUGEM aircraft carrier currently under construction.

Baykar press release

Bayraktar KIZILELMA, indigenously and originally developed by Baykar, has recorded yet another unprecedented achievement in the history of global combat aviation history. Türkiye’s indigenous unmanned fighter jet struck a target aircraft, marked by ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar, with complete accuracy using TUBITAK SAGE’s GÖKDOĞAN air-to-air missile during a test off the coast of Sinop. This test marked the first time in aviation history that an unmanned fighter jet successfully destroyed a jet-engine–powered aerial target using a BVR (Beyond Visual Range) air-to-air missile.

Türkiye’s first-ever unmanned fighter jet, Bayraktar KIZILELMA—developed indigenously and originally by Baykar with its own resources—has cleared yet another critical threshold on its path to becoming a game-changer in the defense of our nation’s sky homeland. The latest test, conducted in the Sinop Firing Area, marked the first time that an unmanned fighter jet successfully struck a jet-powered aerial target with an air-to-air missile.

First and Only in the World in Air Combat

The vast majority of unmanned fighter jet projects worldwide are designed primarily for air-to-land missions. While no other unmanned platform has achieved air-to-air firing capability to date, Bayraktar KIZILELMA has become the first and only platform in the world to demonstrate air-to-air combat capability through its latest firing test—opening a new chapter in aviation history.

KIZILELMA’s Formation Flight with F-16s

Bayraktar KIZILELMA flying with Turkish Air Force’s F-16s in formation (Credit: Baykar)

Five F-16 fighter jets, which departed from the 5th Main Jet Base Command in Merzifon for the historic test, joined Bayraktar KIZILELMA over Sinop. Bayraktar KIZILELMA conducted a five-aircraft formation flight with F-16s, demonstrating the air combat concept of the future through manned–unmanned joint operations. Meanwhile, the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV accompanied the formation, capturing the historic performance from the air.

As part of the test scenario, a high-speed, jet-engine–powered target aircraft was launched. It was detected and tracked by ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar, integrated into Bayraktar KIZILELMA. Once the radar precisely marked the target, KIZILELMA fired a GÖKDOĞAN BVR (beyond visual range) air-to-air missile—developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE—from its wing station. The indigenous missile struck the jet-powered target with complete accuracy.

With this test, the air-to-air attack capability of the indigenous unmanned fighter jet Bayraktar KIZILELMA was also verified. For the first time in Turkish aviation history, an indigenous air-to-air missile was fired from an indigenous aircraft against an airborne target, guided by an indigenous radar. In this way, every link in the air-to-air mission chain was executed entirely with indigenous capabilities.

This test, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in Türkiye’s aviation history, was monitored live from the air. Air Force Commander Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, Combat Air Forces Commander Gen. Rafet Dalkıran, ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol, and Baykar Chairman Selçuk Bayraktar were aboard a formation of F-16s that departed from Merzifon, overseeing the historic strike from the cockpits. The delegation following the test also included TÜBİTAK SAGE Institute Director Kemal Topalömer and ROKETSAN General Manager Murat İkinci.

Company officials and commanders with Bayraktar KIZILELMA after the tesr-firing (Credit: BAYKAR)

“Sees Without Being Seen, Strikes Without Being Hit”

The historic live-fire test also demonstrated how the air combat concepts of the future will take shape. The game-changing impact that Bayraktar TB2 UCAVs created in air-to-ground missions will now be carried into air-to-air missions with Bayraktar KIZILELMA. Possessing a much lower radar cross-section (RCS) compared to existing fighter jets, Bayraktar KIZILELMA can detect enemy aircraft from very long distances—before they can detect it—thanks to its advanced onboard sensors. With this new concept of “seeing without being seen, striking without being hit,” Bayraktar KIZILELMA will become a platform that delivers decisive superiority in air combat.

Bayraktar KIZILELMA also stands out with its array of critical mission systems. To date, the platform has successfully integrated advanced technologies—produced only by a select number of countries worldwide—such as ASELSAN’s MURAD AESA radar and the low-observable electro-optical targeting system TOYGUN. Possessing a wide range of munitions options, Türkiye’s indigenous unmanned fighter jet will be able to employ all indigenously produced munitions. In previous tests, Bayraktar KIZILELMA achieved direct hits on targets using TOLUN and TEBER-82 munitions. With the GÖKDOĞAN firing, it has now demonstrated its competence not only in air-to-ground missions but also in air-to-air engagements.

Export Leader

Since its founding, Baykar has carried out all of its projects using its own resources, and has generated 83% of its revenue from exports since the beginning of its UAV R&D efforts in 2003. In 2023, Baykar achieved $1.8 billion in exports, ranking among the top 10 exporting companies across all sectors in Türkiye. As the world’s leading exporter in the unmanned aerial vehicle market, Baykar continued its global success in 2024 as well, generating 90% of its revenue from exports and once again reaching $1.8 billion in export volume.

Baykar, which received the Export Champions Award by ranking among Türkiye’s top 10 exporting companies across all sectors in both 2023 and 2024, has been the export leader of the defense and aerospace industry for four consecutive years—2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024—according to data from the Defense Industry Agency (SSB) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). In 2023, Baykar alone accounted for one-third of the entire sector’s exports. In 2024, it single-handedly carried out one-quarter of Türkiye’s total defense and aerospace exports, securing Türkiye’s position as the global leader in the unmanned aerial vehicle export market. As the world’s largest unmanned aerial vehicle company, Baykar has signed export agreements with a total of 37 countries—36 for the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV and 16 for the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV.

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Naval News comments

KIZILELMA at the flight deck of TCG Anadolu (Credit: Turkish MoD)

Bayraktar KIZILELMA is Turkey’s first jet-powered unmanned combat aircraft designed for air-to-air, air-to-ground, and naval aviation missions. Developed by Baykar as a low-observable, high-agility platform, it aims to undertake roles traditionally assigned to manned fighters while reducing operational cost and risk. The aircraft features autonomous flight capability, an AI-enabled mission computer, and a structure optimized for short-runway and carrier operations.

Powered by a single turbofan engine, KIZILELMA has a maximum take-off weight of roughly 6,000 kg and can carry about 1,500 kg of weapons in internal and external stations. It incorporates an indigenous AESA radar, the TOYGUN electro-optical targeting system, and secure long-range datalinks. Designed for high-subsonic performance in its initial configuration, future variants are expected to approach transonic speeds. The aircraft is compatible with a wide range of Turkish smart munitions and achieved a major milestone by successfully firing the GÖKDOGAN air-to-air missile and destroying a live aerial target—marking a first for unmanned fighter aircraft.

According to company officials, KIZILELMA will form the core of the Turkish Navy’s airpower aboard its flagship TCG Anadolu, operating alongside the Bayraktar TB-3 UCAV. The unmanned fighter jet is also planned for deployment on the Turkish Navy’s future aircraft carrier, known as MUGEM. With its carrier-capable design and multi-role mission set, KIZILELMA is positioned to become a central element of Turkey’s distributed naval and air combat capability in the coming years.