Greek media compares Türkiye’s Kizilelma UCAV with Greece’s Rafale fighter jet

Greek City Times, a Greek publication, recently released an article titled “Clash of the Titans: Can the Turkish Kizilelma Compete with the Greek Rafale?“. The article compares Türkiye’s Kizilelma unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) with Greece’s Rafale multirole fighter jet, examining the strengths and weaknesses of both aircraft.

Why it matters

The comparison between the Kizilelma and Rafale underscores the growing defense rivalry between Türkiye and Greece. Both countries are significantly advancing their military aviation capabilities. This discussion highlights the increasing role of unmanned combat systems alongside traditional manned fighter jets in modern warfare.

Details

• Rafale’s advantages: Greek defense experts argue that the Rafale outperforms the Kizilelma in several critical areas, including radar capabilities, weapons systems, and combat experience. The Rafale’s RBE2 AESA radar can detect stealthy targets like the Kizilelma at long ranges, while its battle-tested performance gives it a clear edge in terms of maneuverability and operational flexibility.

• Kizilelma’s features: The Kizilelma, although an unmanned aircraft, boasts impressive features such as a reduced radar cross-section and advanced autonomous capabilities. However, its real-world combat performance remains unproven, which raises questions about its effectiveness against an established fighter jet like the Rafale.
• Expert opinions: Greek analysts suggest that the Rafale’s superior maneuverability and operational flexibility provide it with a decisive advantage over the Kizilelma. Meanwhile, Turkish experts argue that comparing an unmanned aircraft like the Kizilelma with a manned fighter jet such as the Rafale is an inaccurate comparison, as they belong to fundamentally different categories of aircraft.

Zoom in

Turkish defense experts, including retired military officers, emphasize that comparing the Kizilelma and Rafale is misleading. They argue that a more appropriate comparison would involve other unmanned systems for the Kizilelma or manned aircraft like Türkiye’s Kaan or F-16 when compared to the Rafale.

Zoom out

This debate between Kizilelma and Rafale reflects a broader shift in global defense strategies, where unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are becoming increasingly important. While Türkiye continues to advance its unmanned systems, Greece is focusing on enhancing its fleet of manned fighter jets. The evolving competition between these two platforms will play a crucial role in shaping the future of air combat and regional defense dynamics.