Istanbul (Monitoring Desk) Turkey’s defense company Baykar has announced that it plans to begin the first serial deliveries of its advanced unmanned combat aircraft “Bayraktar Kızılelma” within this year.
Speaking to Anadolu’s Technology Desk during the SAHA 2026 international defense and aerospace exhibition, Baykar CEO Haluk Bayraktar said that Kızılelma is currently undergoing continuous flight testing and the company is soon moving toward mass production.
He said, “We aim to complete the first serial deliveries this year.”
Haluk Bayraktar further stated that Turkey’s defense industry has undergone a major transformation over the past two decades. According to him, in 2002 the number of companies involved in the defense sector was around 20, while by 2026 this number has exceeded 3,000.
He added that Turkey’s defense exports have increased from $250 million to over $10 billion last year, with a target of $13 billion set for this year.
According to him, SAHA Istanbul has now become the largest industrial cluster in Europe, with more than 1,300 members and over 30 universities included in its network.
