During a press conference, Leonardo (BIT: LDO) CEO Roberto Cingolani stated that demonstrations for MUM-T with KIZILELMA unmanned fighter will commence in mid-2026.
Italy-based Ares Ossevatorio Difesa reported that Leonardo has scheduled MUM-T demonstrations with Baykar’s KIZILELMA unmanned fighter, in which M-346F LCA will be used as the testbed, to begin in mid-2026.
Leonardo CEO, Roberto Cingolani, stated that a M-346F LCA as the controlling aircraft will be paired with two jointly modified (Likely through LBA Systems JV) KIZILELMA unmanned fighters for the MUM-T tests aimed at demonstrating the capability for the GCAP programme.
Cingolani added that an undisclosed test is scheduled between April and May 2026, while a second test to be performed later will be announced to the public.
Previously, roughly a year ago, Cingolani outlined three alternatives for MUM-T demonstrations: KIZILELMA and unmanned conversions of M-346 and M-345 trainer/LCAs. Considering the tests with KIZILELMA being months away, it can be assumed that Italy decided on KIZILELMA due to its inherent low observability and fighter-like characteristics, which can keep up with the fighter to come out of the GCAP programme.
TUSAŞ similarly performed a MUM-T demonstration, with the HÜRJET advanced trainer and a ANKA-III stealth UCAV covering autonomous formation flight.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
