Overview
- A joint statement on June 22 said the May trials at Baykar’s Çorlu test centre marked the program’s move from simulation to live operations.
- A single KIZILELMA prototype executed autonomous taxi and takeoff, used Smart Fleet Autonomy algorithms to rejoin two M‑346s, and then ceded control to the crewed M‑346.
- Leonardo and Baykar reported that the missions validated collaborative algorithms that enable coordinated formations, position changes, separations and rejoins.
- Data exchange during the flights ran over a radio‑frequency link synchronized and protected by Leonardo’s GCC Tactical Platform for real‑time command and cyber defence.
- The companies said they will analyse flight data and run further phases to expand mission complexity and incrementally increase autonomy, a development relevant to NATO and European crewed–uncrewed concepts.