Türkiye's first unmanned fighter aircraft passed its taxi and ground driving tests over the weekend, according to leading Turkish defense industry firm Baykar.
The Bayraktar Kizilelma "came one step closer to its first flight" after the domestically developed jet's first test runs were conducted without safety ties, the statement said on Sunday.
The trials were directed by Baykar's chief technology officer Selçuk Bayraktar at the Akinci Flight Testing and Test Center in northwestern Türkiye, it added.
Known for developing the internationally widely used Bayraktar TB2 drone, Baykar said the Kizilelma would "revolutionize" the battlefield with its key landing and take-off capabilities on ships with short runways.
The unmanned jet was developed to operate from the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault vessel of the Turkish Navy and will play an important role in overseas missions, it added.
Featuring a low radar signature thanks to its design, the Kizilelma will be able to perform the most challenging missions.