Aircraft & UAVs

Calidus B-250

Also known as
  • B-250
  • B-250LA
  • B-250T
  • Badr-250
  • B-250 Bader

The Calidus B-250 is a UAE-developed single-engine turboprop light attack and trainer family for close air support, armed ISR, counterinsurgency, and training. Public sources document Novaer design roots, Calidus manufacture in the UAE, a carbon-fibre airframe, PT6A-68 power, seven external stores, B-250LA and B-250T variants, and UAE orders for light-attack and training aircraft, but not a confirmed named combat deployment.

Calidus B-250, Single-engine turboprop light attack and trainer aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Commons Calidus B-250 image 1

Role in Conflicts

2015 Various Conflicts
Side
Unconfirmed conflict context

Public coverage documents the B-250 as a UAE light-attack and trainer program intended for CAS, ISR, COIN, and training, but not a single named combat deployment.

Documented Mission Fit

The B-250 is documented as a purpose-built light-attack and training aircraft rather than only a modified basic trainer. Available sources support the mission set and development status, while the conflict row remains limited to unconfirmed conflict context because no reliable source found in this run tied the aircraft to a named combat deployment.

Mission package

Calidus and WAM describe close air support, armed ISR, counterinsurgency, and training roles.

Sources: Calidus B-250 product page; WAM Calidus B-250 launch.

Airframe and cockpit

Reporting identifies a carbon-fibre airframe, pressurised cockpit, Collins/Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics, and two Martin-Baker ejection seats.

Sources: Aerospace Global News B-250LA debut; Royal Aeronautical Society B-250 debut coverage.

UAE procurement

The UAE order history covers a 24-aircraft light-attack buy and a later B-250T trainer requirement.

Sources: Defense News B-250 first order; Aletihad B-250T trainer acquisition.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United Arab Emirates
Type
Single-engine turboprop light attack and trainer aircraft
Service note
2010s-present
Designer
Novaer
Designed
2015
Unit cost
About $25.8 million per aircraft, inferred from Quwa's reported $620 million UAE contract for 24 aircraft.
Developed from
Novaer B-250 project

Specifications

Crew
2
Engine
1 x Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68, 1,600 shp
Airframe
Carbon-fibre structure
Avionics
Rockwell Collins Pro Fusion glass cockpit
Mission roles
Close air support, armed ISR, counterinsurgency, and advanced training
Maximum speed
301 knots (557 km/h)
Endurance
Up to 12 hours
Maximum range
Up to 2,400 nmi (4,445 km)
Operating radius
About 1,037 km attack radius or 2,185 km ISR radius, depending on profile
Service ceiling
30,000 ft
Payload
About 1,800 kg
Hardpoints
7 external stores
EO/IR gimbal
Mission sensor fit for precision strike and ISR
Training infrastructure
HAVELSAN agreement covers B-250 flight training device, part-task trainers, briefing/debriefing station, cockpit entry/exit simulator, and computer-based training
Variants

Public reporting separates the B-250 family into a light-attack aircraft and a trainer branch, with Badr-250 used in UAE launch coverage.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
B-250LALight-attack variant

Aerospace Global News described the B-250LA as the light-attack, ISR, and training variant shown at Dubai Airshow 2025, with a longer wing than the B-250T trainer and UAE-developed guided weapons displayed with it.

Sources: Aerospace Global News B-250LA debut

B-250TTrainer variant

Aletihad, carrying WAM reporting, said the UAE Air Force and Air Defence Command expressed intent to purchase 40 B-250T trainer aircraft for aviation training.

Sources: Aletihad B-250T trainer acquisition

Badr-250UAE launch designation

WAM identified Badr-250 as the B-250 light attack aircraft launched by Calidus Holding Group at Dubai Airshow 2025.

Sources: WAM Calidus B-250 launch

Compatible Munitions

Aerospace Global News described the B-250LA display as carrying UAE-developed guided weapons among its loadout.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
ALHEDA missile, Short-range guided missile family, MunitionsALHEDA missileAnti-tank missile family

Aerospace Global News named Alheda anti-tank missiles among the weapons displayed with the B-250LA at Dubai Airshow.

Sources: Aerospace Global News B-250LA debut

Desert Sting 16, Guided glide munition, MunitionsDesert Sting 16Guided glide munition

Aerospace Global News named Desert Sting 16 glide munitions among the weapons displayed with the B-250LA at Dubai Airshow.

Sources: Aerospace Global News B-250LA debut

Timeline

Calidus B-250 Key Events

  1. Novaer project is taken forward by Calidus

    Quwa reports that the B-250 started as a Novaer project before Calidus acquired Novaer and commissioned further development in the UAE.

    Sources: Quwa B-250 system profile

  2. Public debut at Dubai Airshow

    Royal Aeronautical Society coverage described the B-250's international air show debut at Dubai and identified its carbon-fibre structure, Pro Fusion cockpit, and PT6A-68 powerplant.

    Sources: Royal Aeronautical Society B-250 debut coverage

  3. UAE becomes the launch customer

    Defense News and Quwa reported a first UAE order for 24 B-250 light-attack aircraft at Dubai Airshow 2019, with the contract value reported at about $620 million.

    Sources: Defense News B-250 first order, Quwa B-250 system profile

  4. B-250T trainer order is reported

    Aletihad reported that the UAE Air Force and Air Defence Command expressed intent to purchase 40 B-250T trainer aircraft from Calidus Aerospace.

    Sources: Aletihad B-250T trainer acquisition

  5. HAVELSAN training-system agreement is formalized

    HAVELSAN announced an agreement to develop B-250 flight-training and simulator systems for Calidus after an earlier 2023 protocol.

    Sources: HAVELSAN B-250 training solution

  6. B-250LA first flight is reported

    Aerospace Global News reported that the B-250LA completed its first flight on 2 November 2025 before appearing at Dubai Airshow.

    Sources: Aerospace Global News B-250LA debut

  7. B-250 is publicly launched at Dubai Airshow

    WAM reported that Calidus launched the Badr-250 (B-250) as a fully developed and manufactured UAE aircraft after qualification and core testing.

    Sources: WAM Calidus B-250 launch

Media

Calidus B-250 Videos

Calidus B-250 Images

Calidus B-250, Single-engine turboprop light attack and trainer aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Commons Calidus B-250 image 2
Calidus B-250, Single-engine turboprop light attack and trainer aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2
Source: Commons Calidus B-250 image 3
Related Weapon Systems
IOMAX Archangel, Armed surveillance and light attack turboprop aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIOMAX ArchangelArmed surveillance and light attack turboprop aircraftThe IOMAX Archangel is a U.S.-built armed surveillance and light attack turboprop based on the Thrush S2R-660/S2R-T660 agricultural airframe and developed after IOMAX's earlier AT-802 border-patrol aircraft work for the UAE. IOMAX markets the aircraft for low-cost armed ISR, counterinsurgency, border security, and precision strike from austere strips, and open-source investigations later documented UAE-linked Archangel operations in Yemen and Libya.
Turkish Aerospace Hürkuş, Tandem-seat turboprop trainer and light-attack aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsTurkish Aerospace HürkuşTandem-seat turboprop trainer and light-attack aircraft familyTurkish Aerospace Hürkuş is a Turkish tandem-seat, single-engine turboprop trainer family developed by TUSAŞ, with a mission-aircraft configuration for light attack, armed reconnaissance, and special-task training. TUSAŞ identifies Niger as the first export user of the mission variant and Chad as a later recipient; one Nigerien Hürkuş was reported destroyed during the January 2026 Islamic State attack on Niamey's Air Base 101.

Sources

WAM Calidus B-250 launchPublisher: WAM | Note: Supports the B-250's UAE manufacture, light-attack and training roles, seven external stores, EO/IR gimbal, PT6A-68 engine, 1,600 shp rating, speed, endurance, payload, ceiling, and Dubai Airshow 2025 launch context. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Calidus B-250 product pagePublisher: Calidus | Note: Supports the manufacturer-described B-250 mission roles, UAE design and manufacture framing, electro-optical systems, mission simulation options, and smart-weapons integration positioning. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Quwa B-250 system profilePublisher: Quwa | Note: Supports the Novaer/Brazil origin, Calidus development context, UAE launch-customer order, tandem-seat layout, endurance, speed, payload, hardpoints, and the reported $620 million value for the 24-aircraft UAE contract. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Defense News B-250 first orderPublisher: Defense News | Note: Supports the November 2019 UAE order for 24 B-250 light-attack aircraft, the reported AED 2.273 billion/about $620 million value, and the B-250's close-air-support, counter-terrorism, training, and ISR mission framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Aletihad B-250T trainer acquisitionPublisher: Aletihad | Note: Supports the UAE Air Force and Air Defence Command intent to purchase 40 B-250T trainer aircraft from Calidus Aerospace and the trainer's advanced cockpit, simulation, and ground-based training-system context. | Accessed: 2026-07-05HAVELSAN B-250 training solutionPublisher: HAVELSAN | Note: Supports the July 2025 agreement for B-250 flight-training devices, part-task trainers, briefing/debriefing stations, cockpit entry/exit simulators, and computer-based training systems. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Royal Aeronautical Society B-250 debut coveragePublisher: Royal Aeronautical Society | Note: Supports the B-250's 2017 Dubai Airshow debut, carbon-fibre structure, Rockwell Collins Pro Fusion glass cockpit, PT6A-68 engine, and eight-hardpoint debut configuration. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Commons Calidus B-250 image 1Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the primary gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Commons Calidus B-250 image 2Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the second gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Commons Calidus B-250 image 3Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and licensing context for the third gallery image. | Accessed: 2026-07-05Aerospace Global News B-250LA debutPublisher: Aerospace Global News | Note: Supports the B-250LA Dubai Airshow display context, 2 November 2025 first flight, longer-wing distinction from the B-250T, compatible Alheda anti-tank missiles and Desert Sting 16 glide munitions, projected certification and production context, and selected B-250LA specifications. | Accessed: 2026-07-05