{"id":15173948,"date":"2026-06-22T21:11:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T01:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/leonardos-m-346-controls-baykars-kizilelma-ucav-in-loyal-wingman-trials\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T04:10:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T08:10:22","slug":"leonardos-m-346-controls-baykars-kizilelma-ucav-in-loyal-wingman-trials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/leonardos-m-346-controls-baykars-kizilelma-ucav-in-loyal-wingman-trials\/","title":{"rendered":"Leonardo\u2019s M-346 Controls Baykar\u2019s Kizilelma UCAV in Loyal Wingman Trials"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"460\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Kizilelma-M-346-Loyal-Wingman-1-460x259.jpg\" class=\"webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image\" alt=\"Project K-SWARM\" style=\"display: block;margin-bottom: 5px;clear:both;max-width: 100%\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Project K-SWARM saw a Kizilelma UCAV working in a Crewed\/UnCrewed Teaming scenario, responding to a series of commands sent from the M-346.&nbsp;<\/h2>\n<p>The Turkish-Italian <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2025\/10\/07\/italian-delegation-visits-baykar\/\">collaboration<\/a> over <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2025\/11\/09\/lba-systems-to-build-ucavs-in-italy\/\">manufacturing Baykar\u2019s unmanned combat aerial vehicles<\/a> (UCAV) at Leonardo\u2019s facilities for the European market with local mission systems and certifications has taken a major leap forward. The <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2026\/06\/16\/canada-to-negotiate-m-346-procurement\/\">M-346<\/a> trainer aircraft and the <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2025\/11\/30\/turkeys-kizilelma-gokdogan-live-fire\/\">Kizilelma<\/a> performed the first collaborative Crewed\/UnCrewed Teaming (CUC-T) test in what Leonardo called the K-SWARM series of \u201cjoint autonomous formation flights,\u201d held in May at Baykar\u2019s \u00c7orlu test flight center.<\/p>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.leonardo.com\/en\/press-release-detail\/-\/detail\/22-06-2026-leonardo-and-baykar-set-major-milestone-for-advanced-crewed-uncrewed-capability-development-with-successful-first-k-swarm-live-trials\">Jun. 22, 2026<\/a>, joint statement by Leonardo and Baykar said the \u201cautonomous formation flights\u201d validated the engineering, software, hardware developed for autonomous combat. This test campaign has now laid the foundation for refining the operational, conceptual, industrial, logistical and doctrinal processes when the systems are mass produced for combat use.<\/p>\n<p>The first of a trial campaign which will continue in the coming months, the test flight saw a Kizelelma prototype with Turkish flight autonomy hardware and software integrated with Italian unmanned control codes. Two Leonardo M-346s, a company-owned M-346FA (Fighter Attack) variant and an Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare &#8211; ItAF) T-346A acting as a chase aircraft, took part in the K-SWARM trials with the single Kizilelma, Leonardo\u2019s release said.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f534.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\udd34\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/LDO_PR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#LDO_PR<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/Leonardo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Leonardo<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BaykarTech?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BaykarTech<\/a> set a major milestone for advanced Crewed\/UnCrrewed capability development with successful first K-SWARM live trials. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/WKZtLHugbM\">https:\/\/t.co\/WKZtLHugbM<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uomPsBc46N\">pic.twitter.com\/uomPsBc46N<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Leonardo (@Leonardo_live) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Leonardo_live\/status\/2069013166722326865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Kizilelma took off and joined the M-346 formations autonomously, before being controlled and commanded by the M-346FA crew in a series of formation maneuvers.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Systems, hardware and software developed<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The test flight was preceded by months of preparatory work and testing activities of other related systems that figured in both the ground testing and first flight trial. Teams had developed a radio frequency-based Leonardo GCC Tactical Platform data link that synchronized and fused all the data between the Kizilelma and M-346s that was employed in the flight.<\/p>\n<p>Latest generation algorithms and relevant tactics and procedures developed by Leonardo at its Avionic Flight Control Innovation Labs and the Product Capability and Concept Laboratory (PC2LAB) in Turin were put to use. Parallely, Baykar integrated its \u201cadvanced smart fleet autonomy capabilities into the CUC-T algorithms.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKizilelma\u2019s advanced autonomy capabilities greatly simplified the integration process, allowing for seamless implementation and rapid deployment,\u201d Leonardo\u2019s release added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"tr\">SICAK GEL\u0130\u015eME | \u0130TALYA VE T\u00dcRK\u0130YE\u2019DEN STRATEJ\u0130K HAMLE!<\/p>\n<p>K-SWARM program\u0131 kapsam\u0131nda, Bayraktar KIZILELMA \u0130nsans\u0131z Sava\u015f U\u00e7a\u011f\u0131 ile Leonardo M-346 u\u00e7aklar\u0131 \u00c7orlu\u2019da ilk kez ortak otonom formasyon u\u00e7u\u015fu ger\u00e7ekle\u015ftirdi.<\/p>\n<p>\u0130nsanl\u0131 ve insans\u0131z platformlar\u0131n koordinasyonunu sa\u011flayan\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/1xlttDQTaZ\">pic.twitter.com\/1xlttDQTaZ<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SavunmaSanayiST\/status\/2069001521467941316?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>These were first tested with an M-346 Full Mission Simulator based at Venegono, Italy. The release\u2019s framing suggests the simulator was used to simulate and choreograph the CUC-T command tasking, formation flights and test the various autonomous flight, data linking and networking algorithms developed by Baykar and Leonardo.<\/p>\n<p>The Leonardo release further explained that \u201cthese were brought into action during the M-346\/KIZILELMA formation flights, supporting the validation of advanced collaboration and coordination of different high performance combat platforms and air systems, as the programme marked the transition from simulation to live operations.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3><strong>M-346 and Kizilelma teaming test flight<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The final flight campaign saw the Kizilelma taxing and taking off autonomously, and then joining the M-346FA in a formation flight, enabled by Baykar\u2019s Smart Fleet Autonomy algorithms. The SFA manned-unmanned autonomous flight code is developed by the Baykar\u2019s Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Laboratory that allowed the M-346 \u201cto subsequently assume full control of the unmanned aircraft.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"tr\">\u00c7orlu\u2019daki K-SWARM canl\u0131 u\u00e7u\u015f testlerinde, iki adet M-346 u\u00e7a\u011f\u0131 ile Bayraktar KIZILELMA insanl\u0131\/insans\u0131z kollaboratif yeteneklerini (CUC-T) ba\u015far\u0131yla sergiledi.<\/p>\n<p>Otonom kalk\u0131\u015f yapan KIZILELMA, havada entegre aviyonik s\u00fcit ve ak\u0131ll\u0131 filo otonomisi algoritmalar\u0131yla M-346\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YRD4RvWmg2\">https:\/\/t.co\/YRD4RvWmg2<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/t40691rTZC\">pic.twitter.com\/t40691rTZC<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SavunmaSanayiST.com (@SavunmaSanayiST) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SavunmaSanayiST\/status\/2069003648886071660?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The M-346FA pilots employed a \u201cfully integrated onboard avionic suite\u201d and a \u201cdedicated crewed\/uncrewed computing system\u201d to command the Kizilelma into \u201cdifferent formations,\u201d which the Turkish aircraft \u201cautonomously executed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDifferent maneuvers and formations, including position changes, separations and rejoins were successfully tested with the Kizilelma accurately responding to the M-346 commands,\u201d Leonardo\u2019s release further said.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Technology effort and future<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Leonardo said the \u00c7orlu flight test was preceded by months of extensive and intense preparation work, which saw the involvement of pilots and technicians from both companies. With the required level of technical integration of the systems, and algorithms validation ensuring safe and effective tests, the next stage will analyze the data gathered during the K-SWARM programme.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Bayraktar <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/KIZILELMA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#KIZILELMA<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/2708.png\" alt=\"\u2708\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f680.png\" alt=\"\ud83d\ude80\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f34e.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf4e\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/2705.png\" alt=\"\u2705\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> Test Flight with KARAT IRST<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/Baykar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Baykar<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f91d.png\" alt=\"\ud83e\udd1d\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/aselsan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Aselsan<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/NationalTechnologyInitiative?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#NationalTechnologyInitiative<\/a> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f30d.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\udf0d\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/17.0.2\/72x72\/1f1f9-1f1f7.png\" alt=\"\ud83c\uddf9\ud83c\uddf7\" class=\"wp-smiley\" style=\"height: 1em;max-height: 1em\" \/> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/aB4FVm0wSA\">pic.twitter.com\/aB4FVm0wSA<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 BAYKAR (@BaykarTech) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BaykarTech\/status\/2039960022243795304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>In the coming months, the K-SWARM will progress \u201cinto more complex operations [and] additional functions [&#8230;] requiring greater situational awareness and assets working together \u2018as one\u2019 towards mission objectives.\u201d The AI technology and algorithms will now \u201cincrementally shift from remote piloting to autonomy\u201d to ultimately \u201creduce pilot workload [&#8230;] while maintaining full control and decision-making.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Leonardo\u2019s press release concluded that \u201cthe first phase of trials demonstrates the solid partnership between Leonardo and Baykar, and their respective technology and industrial competences.\u201d The company added that this \u201cconfirms the companies\u2019 competitive advantage in the field and represents a concrete step towards the development of critical capabilities for modern combat air operations in multidomain operational scenarios.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"inmi-source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/theaviationist.com\/2026\/06\/22\/leonardos-m-346-controls-baykars-kizilelma\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Travel \u2013 theaviationist<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Project K-SWARM saw a Kizilelma UCAV working in a Crewed\/UnCrewed Teaming scenario, responding to a series of commands sent from the M-346.&#160; The Turkish-Italian collaboration over manufacturing Baykar\u2019s unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) at Leonardo\u2019s facilities for the European market\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15173950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[199],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15173948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-travel"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1.jpg",460,259,false],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1-160x160.jpg",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1-24x24.jpg",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1-48x48.jpg",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1-96x96.jpg",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15173948-kizilelma-m-346-loyal-wingman-1-460x259-1-300x259.jpg",300,259,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/articles\/travel\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Travel<\/a>","tag_info":"Travel","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15173948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15173948"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15173948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15173949,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15173948\/revisions\/15173949"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15173950"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15173948"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15173948"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15173948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}