New Calidus B-250LA makes appearance at Dubai Airshow as test campaign gathers pace
November 19, 2025
Calidus used the Dubai Airshow to showcase the B-250LA, the latest addition to its growing light-attack and trainer family.
The aircraft, one of three now entering the flight-test phase, completed its first flight on 2 November, giving the programme renewed momentum after several years of development.
The company says the test campaign will run until the end of 2026, followed by a certification effort targeted for 2027. If those milestones hold, a production line is planned to open in Al Ain the same year, with initial deliveries expected in 2028–29. Calidus is aiming for a steady output of around one aircraft per month once full manufacturing begins.
Shifting from trainer roots to a broader light-attack role
The new LA variant carries a longer wing than the B-250T trainer, providing more lift and additional space for weapons.
The display aircraft at this year’s show featured a mix of UAE-developed guided weapons, including Halcon’s Desert Sting 16 glide munitions, P32 Thunder precision weapons and Alheda anti-tank missiles. The loadout reinforces the aircraft’s shift towards a heavier strike role.
Calidus has made no secret of its export ambitions for the B-250 family, aiming to compete in a segment typically led by designs from Brazil and the United States.
| Calidus B-250LA specifications | |
|---|---|
| Role | Light-attack / ISR / training variant |
| First flight | 2 November 2025 (LA variant) |
| Airframe | Carbon-fibre composite structure |
| Crew | 2 (tandem), Martin-Baker ejection seats |
| Avionics | Collins Pro Line Fusion suite |
| Powerplant | Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A (B-250 baseline) |
| Cruise speed | Approx. 520 km/h |
| Endurance | Up to 12 hours (mission-dependent) |
| Wingspan | Extended wing vs B-250T for added lift and stores |
| Weapons | Compatible with UAE-made munitions including Desert Sting 16, Thunder-series PGMs, Alheda anti-tank missiles |
| Hardpoints | Multiple underwing and centreline stations (guided & unguided stores) |
| Operating cost | Under USD 1,200 per flight hour |
| Expected certification | 2027 |
| Planned production location | Al Ain, United Arab Emirates |
UAE leadership spotlights the B-250LA at the Dubai Airshow
The aircraft attracted senior attention on the show’s opening day when His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Minister of Defence, visited the stand.
Officials briefed him on the platform’s intended roles, spanning close air support, reconnaissance, surveillance and pilot training. Endurance is quoted at up to 12 hours, supporting extended loiter periods for counter-insurgency and border-security missions.
The B-250LA’s locally built design and advanced systems
The airframe is built from carbon fibre, the cockpit is fully pressurised, and the B-250LA is fitted with two Martin-Baker ejection seats and the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite — an unusually sophisticated combination in this class.
The B-250 programme gained early traction in 2019, when the UAE Air Force ordered 24 aircraft in a deal worth about USD 620 million. It was the first time the Ministry of Defence committed to a domestically produced platform.
Before that order, the service operated Air Tractor AT-802I and Archangel turboprops for counter-insurgency missions — both adapted from agricultural aircraft and offering long endurance but limited speed and agility. The B-250, cruising at roughly 520 km/h, was intended to bridge the gap between low-cost COIN aircraft and more demanding fast-jet roles.
Progress on the B-250T trainer as production plans expand
Work continues in parallel on the B-250T trainer. In 2023, the Air Force signalled interest in up to 40 aircraft for pilot instruction. The trainer includes simulated air-to-air and air-to-ground mission environments, giving new pilots exposure to modern fighter avionics without the cost of a jet engine.
Calidus has also worked with EDGE, signing an MoU in 2023 to integrate Desert Sting and Thunder-series munitions on the aircraft. The move is intended to offer future customers a locally supported weapons package rather than relying solely on imported systems.
While Calidus has held discussions with several air forces, including outreach to Senegal, no export contracts beyond the UAE’s initial order have yet been finalised.
The company continues to emphasise the platform’s low operating cost, quoted at under USD 1,200 per flight hour, and its ability to operate from rough or improvised strips.
B-250LA showcase marks a key step toward 2027 certification
For Calidus, the debut of the B-250LA marks a visible step forward at an important moment. With two additional prototypes in the pipeline and a two-year test phase ahead, the company is moving into a period where performance, reliability and customer interest will determine whether the B-250 family evolves from a national programme into an established export product.
