For decades, intercepting a target flying at supersonic speed has been one of the most demanding tests for military aviation. An impossible situation to achieve.
That mission has always been associated with manned fighters, highly trained pilots and extremely sophisticated radar systems. However, a recent test carried out by Türkiye suggests that this scenario could begin to change.
Bayraktar Kizilelma is a war drone developed by the Turkish company Baykar. During a test, This device managed to detect, track and destroy an aerial target that simulated a moving supersonic target.
The result marks an interesting point in the evolution of military drones, since, for the first time, an unmanned system demonstrates that it can perform a task that until now was reserved for fighter aircraft.
Beyond the achievement, the test points to something bigger, that the border between drones and manned fighters that travel at supersonic speeds is beginning to blur.
The drone that wants to behave like a fighter
The Bayraktar Kizilelma is part of a new generation of combat drones known as UCAV (Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle).
Unlike traditional drones—intended, above all, for surveillance or specific attacks—these systems are designed to perform much more complex missions.
The objective of the project is to build an aircraft capable of operating as a fighter, but without a pilot on board.. This involves integrating technologies that until recently were exclusive to manned military aviation.
Kizilelma incorporates advanced sensors, artificial intelligence systems for flight assistance and the ability to transport air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons.
It also has a strategic component, since Turkey has been trying for years to strengthen its defense industry through its own projects to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, especially in critical systems such as radars, engines or missiles.
The test that marks a before and after
During the test that has generated headlines around the world, the Turkish drone faced a scenario designed to test its capabilities.
The objective was a device capable of simulating the behavior of an airplane or missile and flying at supersonic speeds.as well as following it in real time and calculating the exact moment to launch a missile, which is even more complicated.
In the end, the drone managed to identify the target with its radar, maintain tracking while the target maneuvered, and calculate the interception trajectory. Finally it launched an air-to-air missile that hit the target in mid-flight.
From a technical point of view, the exercise reproduces one of the most demanding missions of modern air warfare, which is the interception of high-speed targets.
It should be noted that to achieve this, the drone uses technologies normally found in modern fighters. One of the key elements is the AESA radar developed by the Turkish company Aselsan.
This type of radar uses multiple transmission modules that allow airspace to be scanned very quickly. and follow several objectives simultaneously.
In addition, it is more resistant to interference and offers greater detection accuracy. The second essential component is the weaponry, which was used in the test, the Gökdoğan missile, a radar-guided air-to-air projectile.
This type of missile belongs to the BVR category, which means that They can attack targets located tens of kilometers awayeven outside the field of vision of the pilot or the system.
In practice, these technologies are common in fighters such as the F-16 or F-35. What is new is to see them integrated into an unmanned platform that can operate autonomously or under remote supervision.
Intercepting supersonic targets is no easy task
Shooting down a supersonic target involves solving a complex physics and calculation problem. When a plane or missile flies at speeds faster than sound, its position changes rapidly.
To intercept it, the system must calculate with great precision where the target will be in the future, not where it is at the moment.
This requires extremely precise sensors, computer systems capable of processing data in real time and perfect coordination between the radar, the on-board computer and the missile.
A small error in calculations can cause the missile to miss its target several kilometers away.. For that reason, these missions are usually carried out by experienced pilots who operate high-tech fighters.
That a drone can complete this process automatically demonstrates the extent to which electronics and control systems have evolved in recent years.