Calidus B-250 (Bader)

History

The nature of modern warfare is that counterinsurgency platforms are still in high demand, which has led to an influx of light attack platforms into the market. It has also sparked interest among many small aircraft manufacturers in offering viable, profitable attack aircraft.

The lesser-known United Arab Emirates (UAE) aviation industry has seen significant growth in recent years and is one of the products championed by the Calidus B-250 (formerly known as "Bader").

Its manufacturer, Calidus LLC, a machinery/equipment company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Gulf states, has recently entered the lucrative civilian and military aircraft segment. However, the real design of the aircraft is attributed to Joseph Kovacs, who was also responsible for the classic Embraer EMB-312 "Toucan" in Brazil.

His designs were acquired by Novaer in Brazil, and the B-250 was a joint development between Novaer and Rockwell Collins in the United States.

In the B-250, two crew members sit side by side under a largely unobstructed side-opening canopy that provides excellent visibility from the cockpit. The cockpit is amidships and the engine room is forward. The B-250 has a turboprop that drives a five-blade propeller unit in the nose. The general shape of the wing main aircraft is straight and is mounted low on the side of the fuselage near the midship.

The fin has a single fin with a depth level. Retractable tricycle landing gear allows ground operation. The structure will make extensive use of composite materials.

The aircraft is being actively developed for close support/counterinsurgency, but will also provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, as well as intermediate training for future pilots. The B-250's advertised qualities include lower acquisition and operating costs compared to equivalent aircraft from other, better-known manufacturers.

It was announced that the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion kit will equip the aircraft's avionics with two large color mission screens (Multifunction Displays = MFDs) in front of the pilot. The Head-Up Display (HUD) provides the pilot with relevant mission and performance data.

An electro-optical (EO)/infrared (IR) sensor unit is located under the nose section of the fuselage.

Powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop rated at 1,600 hp. This provides the vehicle with a ferry range of up to 2,400 nautical miles and a service cap of up to 30,000 feet.

The

Bader features no less than seven hardpoints in its design and is designed to carry a variety of weapon options, including precision-guided munitions, rocket pods, gun pods, and mission pods, as well as external fuel depots. This would allow light attackers to use variable weapon sets against small concentrations of enemy forces.

Excellent handling and low-flying characteristics also play a role, as these are typical of close-in support platforms such as the B-250.

Calidus B-250 on display at the 2017 Dubai Air Show.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes