Leonardo and Baykar Test Control of KIZILELMA UCAV From M-346

Leonardo and Baykar have completed the first test flights evaluating interaction capabilities between the M-346 light attack aircraft and the KIZILELMA UCAV.

Leonardo reported this in a press release.

The program is aimed at developing interoperability between manned and unmanned aircraft. The tests were conducted in May at one of Baykar’s flight test facilities in Çorlu, Turkey.

“Collaborative combat teaming has increasingly become a key enabler of future combat air systems, and part of the evolution of current generation fighters. Today’s design of Crewed/UnCrewed Teaming (CUC-T) is one of the fundamental strands for the transformation of military and security tools in all domains. Its’ importance is not only technological, but also operational, doctrinal and industrial,” the company said.

The flights were the first stage of practical testing of swarm capabilities between these platforms and included a series of missions to evaluate swarm interaction algorithms between aircraft.

During the flight campaign, after autonomous taxiing and takeoff, KIZILELMA independently joined the M-346 Fighter Attack aircraft, using Smart Fleet Autonomy algorithms developed in Baykar’s Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) laboratory. This allowed the M-346 to subsequently take full control of the unmanned aircraft. During the tests, the pair was also accompanied by an Italian Air Force T-346A aircraft.

Using the new fully integrated airborne aviation system, M-346 pilots set various formations, which KIZILELMA autonomously executed through a specialized computing system for interaction between manned and unmanned platforms.

It was stated that various maneuvers and formations were successfully tested, including changes in position, separation and rejoining of formation. KIZILELMA responded accurately to M-346 commands.

In June 2025, Baykar and Leonardo established a joint venture, LBA Systems, for joint development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The headquarters of the company will be located in Italy. Its main activity is the development, production and improvement of modern UAV systems.

LBA Systems will manufacture drones at three sites in Italy:

• Grottaglie in the southeast — composite fuselage parts and final assembly of KIZILELMA
• Ronchi dei Legionari in the northeast — final assembly of the TB3
• Villanova d’Albenga in the northwest — final assembly of the Akinci and TB2

Leonardo is responsible for integrating high-tech electronic equipment, including communication and control systems enabling interaction between drones and manned aircraft.