The B-250T trainer displayed fitted with an electro-optical system and weapons hardpoints at IDEX 2025. (Janes/Jeremy Binnie)
The first production model of the Calidus B-250 turboprop light attack aircraft will take its first flight later in 2025, Lahej al-Falasi, the chief of the company's aerospace division, told Janes at the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) 2025 held in Abu Dhabi from 17 to 21 February.
The B-250 was unveiled at the Dubai Airshow in November 2017. An initial order for 24 aircraft for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Air Force and Air Defence (AFAD) was announced two years later, and an order for another 12 was announced during IDEX 2021.
Falasi described the B-250 as a fifth-generation aircraft with an ‘all-glass' cockpit. It is a two-seat tandem aircraft with the weapons officer sitting at the rear, although Falasi said the company has developed software that reduces the burden of operating the electro-optical and weapons systems to the extent that the pilot can carry out attacks on his own.
Falasi said the B-250 will be certified before being delivered to the AFAD with an initial operating capability, with subsequent incremental enhancements being made until it reaches full operating capability.
He was not permitted to identify the weapons that will be carried by the aircraft but said Calidus is working with local partners to integrate the ones requested by the AFAD.
It was announced during the Dubai Airshow in November 2023 that the UAE Air Force intended to order 40 of the B-250T trainer variant. Falasi said that the contract has not been finalised as the requirements are still being refined.
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