Türkiye achieved another milestone in its indigenous defense industry as ASELSAN’s MURAD-100A active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar completed its first integrated flight aboard Baykar’s Bayraktar KIZILELMA unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).

The flight marks a significant step in advancing Türkiye’s self-reliant air-combat and surveillance capabilities.

Next-Generation Radar for UCAVs

The MURAD-100A is a multifunctional, solid-state AESA radar system designed for UCAVs and fighter aircraft, incorporating Gallium Nitride (GaN) power amplifiers for improved efficiency, resilience, and performance.

It provides full electronic beam steering, eliminating the need for mechanical movement and enabling rapid scanning across a 360-degree field of view.

Among its primary functions are multi-target tracking, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, ground-moving target indication, precise rangefinding, and mapping.

The radar can perform several operations simultaneously — such as search, track, and engage — without the delays of mode switching.

According to ASELSAN, the MURAD-100A’s GaN-based design offers longer detection ranges and greater resistance to electronic jamming, positioning it as a regional rival to top-tier systems like the AN/APG-81 used on the U.S. F-35.

The radar’s development reflects Türkiye’s broader effort to strengthen its electronic warfare and air-defense ecosystem through fully domestic solutions.

Test Success on Bayraktar Platforms

The radar was first tested on the Bayraktar AKINCI UCAV earlier this year, where it successfully locked onto multiple airborne targets and transmitted high-resolution imaging to ground stations.

Its latest milestone came with its integration into the Bayraktar KIZILELMA, Türkiye’s next-generation stealth UCAV, in what officials described as “a new era for air combat autonomy.”

KIZILELMA: Türkiye’s Unmanned Fighter Jet

The Bayraktar KIZILELMA — meaning “Red Apple,” a symbolic national ideal — represents Türkiye’s first unmanned stealth fighter.

Developed by Baykar Technology, the aircraft is engineered for air-to-air engagements, precision strikes, and suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD).

It combines low-observable design, short takeoff and landing capability, and high maneuverability typical of manned fighters.

KIZILELMA can operate autonomously or in swarms, using artificial intelligence for threat analysis and tactical decision-making. It can deploy laser-guided bombs, air-to-air missiles, and cruise missiles.

Recent prototypes, including PT-3 and PT-4, have achieved multiple milestones such as afterburner tests, aerodynamic trials, and now, the PT-5 flew with first radar-integrated flight.

Technical Overview of Bayraktar KIZILELMA

• Aircraft Specs Length 14.7 m · Wingspan 10 m · MTOW 8.5 t · Payload 1.5 t
• Speed Up to Mach 0.9 (≈1,100 km/h)
• Endurance Up to 5 hours · Combat radius ≈930 km
• Engines AI-25TLT / AI-322F / future TEI TF-6000 or TEI TF-10000
• Altitude Operational 25,000 ft · Max 35,000 ft

Strategic Significance

The integration of the MURAD-100A with KIZILELMA underscores Türkiye’s goal of defense autonomy — developing sensors, airframes, and avionics domestically without reliance on foreign suppliers.

The radar’s AESA capability, paired with KIZILELMA’s stealth and AI systems, strengthens Türkiye’s standing among emerging air-power innovators.