Baykar’s Bayraktar KIZILELMA, Türkiye’s first indigenously developed unmanned combat aircraft, has completed its first tethered flight test carrying ASELSAN’s TOLUN precision-guided munition.
Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, President of Defence Industries, described the trial as a strategic indicator of Türkiye’s evolving air–land integration. He emphasized that the synergy of KIZILELMA’s maneuverability and TOLUN’s precision strike capability will influence the doctrines of future combat operations.
TOLUN: Precision and Penetration
Designed by ASELSAN, TOLUN is a GPS/INS-guided air-to-ground munition optimized for both hardened and soft targets. Key features include:
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Range: 102 km with deployable wings
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Guidance: GPS/INS with <8 m CEP
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Warhead: Capable of penetrating 1 m reinforced concrete
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Launcher: Compatible with SADAK-4T, enabling carriage of four munitions per station and strikes on up to eight targets in a single sortie
Its precision and low-collateral damage profile make it effective in urban and strategic strike scenarios.
Operational Impact
The integration of TOLUN with KIZILELMA represents a leap in Türkiye’s indigenous strike capabilities. The unmanned platform can now conduct standoff precision attacks, providing enhanced survivability while reducing risks to pilots.
