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Calidus B-250 (Bader)
Counter-Insurgency / Light Attack Aircraft

Developed by Novaer in partnership with the United Arab Emirates company Calidus, the B-250 was one of the main attractions of the Dubai Air Show, which ended 16 November 2017, in Dubai. It is the only light attack aircraft designed in the 21st century, specifically to carry out COIN (insurgency combat), CAS (air support) and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) missions and advanced training. For this, it has superior warfare capacity, complete provisions for various types of sensors and equipment, unparalleled accelerations and rise rates, in addition to autonomy of up to 12 hours.

Its lineage is from the well respected Super Tucano, which was evaluated by the USAF as a light attack aircraft. The aircraft were both designed by the same individual, the Brazilian Joseph Kovács. Working for Novaer in Brazil, Kovács developed the B-250 aircraft on behalf of Calidus. So while the aircraft was funded by the UAE it was not domestically designed. There were initially two flying prototypes, both built in Brazil by Novaer and then transported to Dubai for the 2019 airshow.

For the first time, in late 2019 the UAE Air Force (UAEAF) ordered a domestically produced aircraft. The order is for 24 B-250 light combat aircraft to be produced by Calidus at a cost of $620 million. The UAEAF operated 6 AT-802Is and 24 S2R Archangels as counter-insurgency aircraft which have proven useful thanks to long loiter time, low operating costs, and ease of maintenance. However, both of these are built around agricultural aircraft and are rather slow by military stnadards.

The B-250 is much faster and more agile (with a 520 km/h cruise speed vs. 340 km/h of the legacy aircraft) while still being cheap and easy to maintain. The B-250 is equipped with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop engine. Novaer developed an all-carbon fibre design offering reduced weight, improved manoeuvrability and autonomy, and an extended service life. Ballistic protection is available if required. The aircraft offers maximum autonomy of 12 hours and a top speed of 301kts (557km/h). The fully pressurised cockpit features two 0-0 Martin Baker ejection seats. The service ceiling is 30,000ft. The landing gear is reinforced for operations from unprepared strips.

The cockpit features a Rockwell Collins Proline Fusion suite — the first time the system has been installed on this type of aircraft. The system features advanced graphical interfaces integrated with a digital Head-Up Display (HUD), intuitive icons, easily configurable touchscreen and multi-function display windows, all designed to provide enhanced situational awareness during all phases of flight and in different flying conditions.

The B-250 is a superior and highly efficient light attack aircraft that is designed specially for asymmetric warfare zones and easily adapts to the most difficult terrain and weather conditions. It incorporates a superior carbon fibre structure that can brave the roughest terrain and flaunts ground-breaking technology to deliver best-in-class versatility and transportability at the low operational costs. The B-250 is ideal for Close Air Support (CAS), Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), Counter-Insurgency (COIN), Persistent Air Support (PAS) and Advanced and Basic Training.

Calidus set up a facility in Al Ain to assemble the aircraft, which uses components from a number of international suppliers, including Canadian engine makers Pratt & Whitney and US military communication equipment provider L3 Technologies. The company can deliver the first aircraft in two years from signing a contract. Then it can deliver two aircraft per month. The company expected to break even three to four years after signing its first contract. Calidus secured the first order for its B-250 turboprop aircraft designed for light attack counter-insurgency (COIN). The order, announced at the Dubai Air Show on 20 November 2019, covered 24 aircraft and associated services for the UAE Air Force and Defence (UAE AF & AD) and was valued at AED2.27 billion (USD620 million).