Prototype Of Turkey's Unmanned Fighter Jet Goes Into Production: Autonomous Maneuverable, Carrying Air-to-Air Missiles

JAKARTA - Turkish drone manufacturer giant Baykar on Saturday last week announced it had reached a new phase in its unmanned fighter aircraft project, revealing the first prototype had entered the production line.

"The bigger and more agile 'fish' has entered the production line three and a half years later," Selçuk Bayraktar, chief technology officer (CTO) at the drone maker, said on Twitter.

Bayraktar refers to the period when Baykar started producing its famous Akıncı combat drone, nicknamed the 'flying fish'.

The National Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle System (MIUS) is named after Kızılelma (red apple) Bayraktar word, referring to an expression in Turkish mythology that symbolizes a distant, but more interesting goal, idea or dream.

The first prototype was previously said to be expected to make its maiden flight in 2023, if not before.

Later, MUIS will be jet powered and is expected to be able to take off and land on the amphibious assault ship TCG Anadolu. This type of landing helicopter dock (LHD) is said to be the first in the world as a ship that allows landing of unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAVs) at its docks. It will be used in multipurpose operations and will ship this year.

Meanwhile, Baykar is currently working on the Bayraktar TB3 UCAV, an upgraded version of the company's famous Bayraktar TB2.

The MIUS and TB3 will both expand the capabilities of Turkish drones, from ground-based operations to naval operations, as both will be able to take off from TCG Anadolu.

The autonomously maneuvering MIUS will be able to operate in tandem with the piloted aircraft, and can carry air-to-air missiles, the company said.

"With the 5th generation fighter aircraft, the world is witnessing the end of manned fighter aircraft. No new manned fighter aircraft will be developed. Unmanned systems will increasingly become the strongest element on the battlefield in the future," Bayraktar previously explained.

"We are also trying to ensure our country's presence in future competitions," he added.

It is known, the unmanned fighter jet is projected to perform many military actions, such as strategic strike, close air support (CAS), missile attack, suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) and destruction of enemy air defense (DEAD).

Baykar in November signed a contract with Ivchenko-Progress, one of the leading Ukrainian companies to procure engines for MIUS. Ivchenko-Progress is projected to supply AI-322F Turbofan engines for the jets under the agreement.

The aircraft is set to have a high operational altitude and take-off weight of 5,500 kilograms (12,125 pounds). It is envisaged to carry 1.5 tonnes of payload, is projected to fly for five hours and reach speeds of up to 800 kph (500 mph or Mach 0.64).