Baykar’s KIZILELMA unmanned fighter flew with ASELSAN’s FEWS-U self-protection electronic warfare system, providing integrated ESM and ECM capabilities.
Baykar announced KIZILELMA’s flight test with a self-protection electronic warfare system, followed by ASELSAN disclosing the system as FEWS-U, which appears to be a development of FEWS adapted for unmanned combat aircraft.
The test footage shows FEWS-U identifying tracking radar and missile threats. In addition to detection and analysis capabilities, FEWS-U can neutralise the threats to an undisclosed degree.
KIZIELMA, being developed as an unmanned fighter, has achieved important milestones over the past months, such as the integration of main sensors (MURAD 100-A AESA Radar, TOYGUN EOTS, KARAT IRST) and the first BVR kill by an unmanned aircraft. However, these are not the entirety of the checklist to be completed.
Modern fighter jets incorporate onboard self-protection systems that can detect, identify, and neutralise/degrade radars and incoming missiles, without having to use large electronic warfare pods. Thus, FEWS-U constitutes another important step for KIZILELMA to gain operational capability as an unmanned fighter.
FEWS-U or an adaptation of it is also likely to be integrated on the stealthy ANKA-III UCAV of TUSAŞ, which is marching towards serial production. It is known that ANKA-III will take on electronic warfare missions in addition to its main role of deep strike.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
