Leonardo and Baykar Successfully Demonstrate Aerial Control of Kizilelma Unmanned Aircraft Using M-346 Trainer Jet
Summary
Italian defense company Leonardo successfully conducted a loyal wingman trial in Turkey, where its M-346 jet trainer established in-flight control over Baykar's Kizilelma drone at Baykar's flight and test center in Çorlu. The test involved two M-346 aircraft and the Kizilelma drone, which performed an autonomous taxi and takeoff before linking with the M-346 through an advanced radio frequency data exchange system to synchronize operational data. During the trial, the aircraft executed a series of missions designed to evaluate AI-driven algorithms, tactics, and procedures developed by Leonardo, with Baykar contributing its Smart Fleet Autonomy capabilities through its own software and hardware infrastructure. The successful demonstration marks a significant milestone in Crewed/Uncrewed Teaming (CUC-T) development, with both companies planning additional, more complex tests in the coming months. This achievement is particularly relevant to Leonardo's role in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), where loyal wingman drone integration is considered a critical operational component.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Leonardo's M-346 jet trainer successfully achieved in-flight control of Baykar's Kizilelma drone, marking a major milestone in Crewed/Uncrewed Teaming technology
- 2. The trial builds upon a previously signed drone cooperation agreement between Leonardo and Baykar, which includes plans to construct Baykar drones in Italy with Leonardo systems installed
- 3. Advanced AI algorithms and autonomy capabilities enabled seamless integration between the crewed and uncrewed aircraft, with the goal of reducing pilot workload and improving mission efficiency
- 4. Leonardo's participation in GCAP makes this loyal wingman experience strategically vital, as uncrewed collaborative systems are envisioned as a core element of future GCAP operations
- 5. The rival European FCAS program, which had similar crewed/uncrewed teaming ambitions, suffered a major setback when its Next Generation Fighter component was terminated in June 2026 due to Franco-German industrial disputes