Calidus B-250 armed trainer

At the Dubai Air Show 2023, the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) announced that a contract was signed with Calidus to acquire forty Calidus B-250T tandem-seat armed training aircraft.

According to Calidus CEO Khalifa Alblooshi, this is the first deal ever for this variant of the Calidus B-250. At the Dubai Air Show 2019, the UAEAF ordered 24 Calidus B-250LA (Light Attack) aircraft.

Both variants, the B-250LA and the B-250T, were present at this year's Air Show. Khalifa Alblooshi stated that the first B-250LA light attack aircraft are "ready for delivery". For the new B-250T training aircraft first deliveries are planned for mid-2026.

Calidus LLC is a Defence Technology Development and Manufacturing Company, founded in 2015 and based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The company will produce the aircraft at their facility at Al Ain international airport.

The B-250 was designed and developed in Brazil by Novaer. In May 2015, Novaer inked a deal with Calidus to design and develop a competitor for the EMBRAER A-29 Super Tucano. Novaer managed to develop the B-250 in little over two years and managed to ship two prototypes to the Dubai Air Show 2017.

Credit photo: Agnes Helou (@agneshelou27)