Ankara / Anadolu

The Turkish unmanned combat aerial vehicle "Kızılelma" successfully hit its target accurately in a test launch of a supersonic air-to-ground missile, the "GJ-230", produced by the Turkish company Roketsan.

This test comes as part of Turkey's efforts to strengthen its domestic defense industry and reduce dependence on foreign sources.

Baykar, the developer of the Kızılelma drone, announced on Monday that it successfully conducted the first test launch of a supersonic air-to-ground missile, describing it as a step that opens new horizons.

It stated that after completing preparations, the fighter took off carrying two GJ-230 missiles under its wings and headed toward a target at sea to conduct the test.

The statement indicated that Kızılelma launched the missile from a distance exceeding 120 kilometers and hit the target with full accuracy.

With this test, Turkey's first unmanned combat aircraft proved its capability to perform critical missions with supersonic air-to-ground munitions, marking a new milestone in its development.

Kızılelma had previously succeeded in test launches of the Turkish air-to-air missile "Gökdoğan", as well as domestic munitions "Tolon", "TEBER-82", "KGK", and "LGK-82".

With the success of the GJ-230 missile test, the integration process of domestic munitions on the aircraft has accelerated, enhancing its ability to engage a variety of targets.

Kızılelma is a revolutionary fighter due to its ability to take off and land from ships with short runways, such as the Turkish ship TCG Anadolu.

The Bayraktar Kızılelma project was launched in 2021, and the first aircraft rolled off the production line on November 14, 2022, before achieving its first successful flight on December 14, 2022.

The success of this test comes within the framework of developing the capabilities of the Kızılelma drone, which can take off and land from ships with short runways, such as TCG Anadolu. The integration of GJ-230 missiles also enhances its ability to engage long-range targets, making it an effective platform for attack and reconnaissance missions.