IDEX 2019: Light attack aircraft Calidus B-250.

First displayed in public at last year’s Dubai Air Show, the Calidus B-250 is a next-generation light attack / trainer aircraft developed by the UAE firm Calidus, specifically designed for the asymmetric warfare threats.

 The Calidus B-250 at IDEX 2019 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

B-250 is powered by a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-68 turboprop engine equipped with a multi-stage axial and single-stage centrifugal compressor. Coupled to a single four-bladed propeller, the engine has maximum power production capacity of 1,600shp.

The power-plant allows the aircraft to fly at a maximum speed of 301KTAS. The aircraft can attain a maximum altitude of 9000m within a short span of time. It is designed to carry a maximum payload of 1,796kg and travel up to a maximum range of 4,500km. Its maximum endurance is up to is 12 hours.

The B-250 comes with a wide variety of mission configurations: it enables digital aided CAS/PAS, flexible weapons load out, easy-to-operate weapons and communication system, high definition sensors and displays and a high-speed ingress/egress.