{{Short description|Emirati/Brazilian military trainer aircraft}} <!-- This article is a part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft. Please see Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout. --> {{Infobox aircraft | name = B-250 | logo = | logo_size = | image = File:Calidus B-250 at Dubai Air Show 2019 1.jpg | alt = | caption = Calidus B-250 at Dubai Air Show 2019 | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = Military trainer<br>Light attack aircraft | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = United Arab Emirates / Brazil | manufacturer = Calidus | design_group = Novaer | designer = | builder = | issuer = | status = In production | owners = | primary_user = United Arab Emirates Air Force | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = 2 (as of January 2018)<ref name="ai218 p15"/> | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = July 2017<ref name="ai218 p15"/> | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}
The '''Calidus B-250''' is a tandem-seat, turboprop, light attack aircraft with counter-insurgency capability. Its structure is constructed entirely of carbon fiber, thus making it much lighter than its competitors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tecnodefesa.com.br/bader-250-o-aviao-que-esta-revolucionando-o-mercado-coincas-mundial/|title=B-250, o avião que promete revolucionar o mercado COIN/CAS mundial. - Tecnodefesa|first=Roberto|last=Caiafa|website=tecnodefesa.com.br}}</ref> It has 7 hard points for placing weapons as well as EO/IR.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defesaaereanaval.com.br/aeronave-de-ataque-leve-b-250-bader-e-apresentada-no-dubai-airshow-2017/|title=Aeronave de ataque leve B-250 Bader é apresentada no Dubai Airshow 2017|publisher=}}</ref> It has Pro Line Fusion II avionics systems supplied by the American company Rockwell Collins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cavok.com.br/blog/dubai-airshow-calidusnovaer-apresenta-o-turboelice-de-ataque-leve-b-250/|title=Dubai Airshow: Novaer apresenta o turboélice de ataque leve B-250|first=Fernando|last=Valduga|publisher=|access-date=2018-01-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503212618/http://www.cavok.com.br/blog/dubai-airshow-calidusnovaer-apresenta-o-turboelice-de-ataque-leve-b-250/|archive-date=2018-05-03|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Design and development== The B-250 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a retractable tricycle landing gear. It has an enclosed cockpit with two Martin-Baker ejection seats in tandem. It has a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6A-68 turboprop in tractor configuration. It was designed and developed in Brazil by Novaer, with mass production to be undertaken by Calidus in the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="ain" /> The chief designer for the project was Joseph Kovács who created the Embraer Tucano.<ref name="ain">{{cite web|title=Emirati Light Attack Aircraft Breaks Cover|url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2017-11-13/emirati-light-attack-aircraft-breaks-cover|date=13 November 2017}}</ref>
In 2019, 24 aircraft were ordered by the United Arab Emirates Air Force at the 2019 Dubai Airshow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/dubai-air-show/2019/11/20/calidus-inks-its-first-b-250-light-attack-plane-order/|title=Calidus inks its first B-250 light attack plane order|last=Insinna|first=Valerie|date=2019-11-20|website=Defense News|language=en-US |access-date=2019-11-22}}</ref>
Intelligence Online revealed that Calidus and Indonesia were working to transform the B-250 aircraft into a state-of-the-art combat drone. The project was discussed with Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan by Prabowo Subianto, during his visit to Abu Dhabi in May 2024. Avionics, surveillance and weapons from both nations were to be used for the new drone. Some Indonesia-made components were also to be used to facilitate the drone’s production in Jakarta. Intelligence Online said the drone plane could also be equipped with AI Tariq and Thunder (formerly P3) missiles developed by the EDGE Group. <ref>{{cite news|title=Jakarta and Abu Dhabi's mystery arms project |date=24 June 2024 |url=https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2024/06/24/jakarta-and-abu-dhabi-s-mystery-arms-project,110250760-art?__cf_chl_tk=ge7dI325zQO9w_QXHIhB1KKGslU5lzokDyZuL4pd3T0-1719733671-0.0.1.1-4649 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240702132922/https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2024/06/24/jakarta-and-abu-dhabi-s-mystery-arms-project,110250760-art?__cf_chl_tk=ge7dI325zQO9w_QXHIhB1KKGslU5lzokDyZuL4pd3T0-1719733671-0.0.1.1-4649 |archive-date=2 July 2024 |access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref>
==Operators== ;{{UAE}} * United Arab Emirates Air Force
==Specifications== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Air International<ref name="ai218 p15">{{cite magazine|last=Butowski|first=Piotr|title=Abu Dhabi strikes out|magazine=Air International|date=February 2018|volume=94|issue =2|page=15|issn=0306-5634}}</ref> |prime units?=met <!-- General characteristics --> |genhide=
|crew=2 |capacity= |length m=10.98 |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m=12.09 |span ft= |span in= |span note= |height m=3.79 |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft= |wing area note= |aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb= |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air --> |lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air --> |lift note= |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 |eng1 type=turboprop |eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 shp=1600<!-- prop engines --> |eng1 note=
|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop name= |prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |prop dia note=
<!-- Performance --> |perfhide=
|max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts=301 |max speed note= |max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft --> |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts=280 |cruise speed note=(clean) |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles= |range nmi= |range note= |combat range km=560 |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note=(combat radius, 4x laser guided bombs, 2x Air-to-air missiles and 1x fuel tank) |ferry range km=2400 |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance=12 hr<!-- if range unknown --> |ceiling m= |ceiling ft=30000 |ceiling note= |g limits=<!-- aerobatic --> |roll rate=<!-- aerobatic --> |glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes --> |sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes --> |sink rate note= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight=
|more performance= <!-- Armament -->
|guns= |bombs= |rockets= |missiles= |hardpoints=7 |hardpoint capacity={{convert|3960|lb|kg|disp=flip|abbr=on}} |hardpoint rockets= |hardpoint missiles= |hardpoint bombs= |hardpoint other=
|avionics= }}
==See also== * Calidus B-350 *Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano * Novaer T-Xc * Novaer U-Xc Stardream
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons Category|Calidus B-250}} * [https://calidus.ae/products/air-vehicles/b-250/ Calidus B-250 webpage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200424043808/https://calidus.ae/products/air-vehicles/b-250/ |date=2020-04-24 }} * [https://www.calidus.ae/b-250 Calidus B-250 webpage] * [http://www.novaer.ind.br/b-250/ Novaer B-250 webpage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223043620/http://www.novaer.ind.br/b-250/ |date=2017-12-23 }}
{{Calidus aircraft}} {{Novaer aircraft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Calidus B-250}} Category:Single-engined turboprop aircraft Category:Aircraft first flown in 2017 Category:Emirati military aircraft Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Low-wing aircraft