![[SUGGESTION] Replace the useless MQ-1 with the Baykar Kızılelma Stealth UCAV at Top Tier (with historical justification for Japan & Italy trees + loadouts!)](https://preview.redd.it/i1eeg5ukya2h1.jpeg?auto=webp&s=c75acf76e2d7eeb440237e3be233bba4b1c7c8e6)
[SUGGESTION] Replace the useless MQ-1 with the Baykar Kızılelma Stealth UCAV at Top Tier (with historical justification for Japan & Italy trees + loadouts!)
I am completely done with how atrocious the free drone system is in Ground RB. The MQ-1 is a total joke at top tier. It moves like a brick, climbs at the speed of smell, and carries exactly two Hellfires while Pantsirs and TORs paint you from 12+ km away the second you render. If you are a ground main who rarely plays Air RB, you basically don't have proper CAS.
Instead of a slow, propeller-driven target drone, Gaijin should replace the top-tier baseline UCAV with the Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma. It shifts the drone mechanic away from "low-impact sniper" into a modern, jet-powered, low-observable unmanned strike asset.
Here is how it would work, why it makes sense historically for certain tech trees, and the exact loadout configurations to make it viable.
Unlike the MQ-1, the Kızılelma is a supersonic/high-subsonic stealth drone powered by a turbofan engine (AI-25TLT/AI-322F).
- Survival: You can actually maneuver, dive, and use terrain masking instead of hanging in the air like a pinata.
- Low Radar Cross-Section (RCS): Internal weapons bays and a stealth airframe mean radar-directed SAMs won't instantly lock you from across the map.
- Payload: It features 6 external wing hardpoints and 2 internal stealth weapons bays, letting you select massive custom configurations.
Historical Justification: Why Japan and Italy should get it
Gaijin loves using real-world defense agreements to flesh out smaller tech trees (like Thai vehicles in the Japanese tree). The Kızılelma fits perfectly into Japan and Italy via real-world procurement and joint ventures:
- 🇮🇩 🇯🇵 Japan Tree (via the Indonesian Procurement Link)
The "Loyal Wingman" Doctrine, Indonesia officially entered a framework agreement to procure the Kızılelma to act as a companion drone for their future 5th-generation manned fighters (specifically the TAI KAAN project they are heavily involved in).
Because Japan acts as the primary host for modern Indonesian military equipment in-game, this gives Japan a high-performance, survival-capable strike asset without needing a separate domestic aviation tree grind.
- 🇮🇹 Italy Tree (via the Leonardo Joint Venture & Carrier Ops)
LBA Systems Venture, Italy's aerospace giant Leonardo formed a 50:50 joint venture with Baykar to locally manufacture the Kızılelma at its Grottaglie factory in Southern Italy, integrating Western electronic warfare suites.
Italy is evaluating it to fly alongside the Leonardo M-346 FA light attack jet. Furthermore, the Kızılelma was designed from day one for short-takeoff/landing (STOBAL) capabilities, making it perfectly suited for Italian carriers like the ITS Cavour and ITS Trieste.
CAS Option A.
Best used for breaking aggressive enemy cap-rushes.
- External Hardpoints: 24× L-UMTAS Anti-Tank Missiles (Utilizing 4× Quad-Launchers across the wing pylons). Features an 8 km range, tandem-charge warheads, and fire-and-update capability to wipe multiple MBTs consecutively.
- Internal Stealth Bays: 2× Gökdoğan (BVRAAM) or 2× Gökhan (Ramjet-powered BVR missiles). If an enemy jet tries to bounce you while you're hunting tanks, you can swat them down from beyond visual range.
CAS Option B
Best used when the enemy has toxic, long-range SPAA networks active.
- External Hardpoints: 4× Kuzgun Cruise Missiles + 2× Bozdoğan(Specifically the turbojet-powered Kuzgun-ER). You can loft these mini-cruise missiles from deep within your own airspace, letting their Imaging Infrared (IIR) terminal seekers autonomously track down and obliterate stationary Pantsirs or TORs.
- Internal Stealth Bays: 2× Kuzgun