Leonardo's M-346FA pilots remotely command Baykar's Kızılelma drone in historic flight demo

Leonardo has achieved a breakthrough in combat aviation teaming by completing a crewed-uncrewed teaming (C-UCT) trial with Baykar Technologies’ Kızılelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV). The demonstration took place last month at Corlu airbase in Turkey, where pilots aboard the light-attack M-346FA jet successfully took full control of the Kızılelma drone during live flights. This milestone marks a significant step forward in collaborative manned-unmanned operations.

The joint exercise, dubbed K-Swarm, aimed to validate the concept of a manned fighter directing an uncrewed fighter-class platform during combat tasks. Leonardo’s M-346FA is already known for its versatility as a lead-in fighter trainer and light attack aircraft, while Baykar’s Kızılelma is an advanced jet-powered UCAV designed for offensive missions. Pairing these platforms enables a force multiplier effect, allowing a single pilot to extend the operational reach and engagement options.

During the sorties, the M-346FA pilot exercised full flight control commands over the Kızılelma, demonstrating the practicalities and safety of such crewed-uncrewed teaming in contested airspace. This development follows increasing global interest in mixed-crew operations for enhanced situational awareness and mission flexibility. The exercise confirms that integrating legacy and emerging technologies can boost combat effectiveness without compromising pilot workload.

The collaboration between Leonardo and Baykar underscores growing Turkish ambitions to develop indigenous advanced aviation capabilities integrating manned and uncrewed assets. The M-346FA is a product of Leonardo’s diversified portfolio targeting training and light combat roles, while Baykar highlights its drone innovation leadership with the Kızılelma. The test at Corlu offers a real-world validation of these complementary defense technologies.

Looking ahead, this crewed-uncrewed teaming trial paves the way for more complex coordinated missions involving swarms of drones and manned controllers. Both companies are expected to refine the operational concepts and technologies underpinning this capability, which may soon influence procurement decisions and future air combat tactics globally. Monitoring follow-on demonstrations will be key to understanding the evolving battlefield roles of such integrated platforms.