Baykar’s Kizilelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) has completed its first weapon releases just days after beginning carriage tests.

Piaggio Aerospace completed the sale of its Villanova d’Albenga and Genoa, Italy sites to Baykar, a Turkish aerospace firm.

Baykar’s products have proven popular among African forces, with the workhorse TB2 expected to lead all other platforms in regional sales by 2035

The Italian company revealed the discussions after Baykar announced it had hosted a delegation from Leonardo.

Turkey’s Baykar has completed a takeoff and landing of its Bayraktar TB3 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) from the Anadolu amphibious assault ship (LHD).

Three unmanned aerial systems parked in the show’s static display perhaps fooled people to think at least two of them were from Turkey’s Baykar.

Combat air is increasingly provided by a mix of traditional manned fast jets and uncrewed platforms, and Middle Eastern air forces are starting to acquire more versatile and capable UAVs and UCAVs.

Six months after the announcement, in July last year, that Saudi Arabia was set to acquire the Baykar Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), one of the prototypes is on display at WDS.