Indonesia has signed an agreement to acquire 12 Bayraktar Kizilelma unmanned combat aircraft from Turkish manufacturer Baykar, marking the drone’s first export sale. The deal, announced at the SAHA Expo 2026 in Istanbul on May 6, involves Indonesian defense holding company PT Republikorp, also referred to as PT Republik Aero Dirgantara in some reports.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028 for use by the Indonesian Armed Forces. The agreement includes options for additional units, with figures ranging from four more to as many as 48 across sources, alongside plans for local production, maintenance, and repair facilities in Indonesia.
The single-engine, jet-powered Kizilelma features a stealthy design with a maximum takeoff weight of 8,500 kilograms, 1,500-kilogram payload capacity, endurance of up to five hours, and top speed of 800 kilometers per hour. It supports air-to-air combat, air-to-ground strikes, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and suppression of enemy air defenses. Equipped with Aselsan MURAD AESA radar, electro-optical systems, and AI-enabled autonomy, the platform has demonstrated beyond-visual-range targeting, including a simulated engagement against an F-16 at 30 miles in November 2025.
This purchase follows Indonesia’s acquisition of Baykar’s TB2, Akinci drones, and a contract for 48 KAAN fifth-generation fighters, expanding defense ties between the two nations.