IDEF 2025: Türkiye to provide training solution for UAE Calidus light attack aircraft

Seen at an earlier event, the Calidus B-250 is now the subject of a training agreement between Türkiye and the UAE. (Collins Aerospace)

Türkiye is to provide a training solution for the United Arab Emirates (UAE)-developed Calidus B-250 turboprop aircraft designed for light attack counter-insurgency (COIN), it was announced at International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul.

Turkish company Havelsan said on 24 July that it had formalised an agreement with UAE-based Calidus for the development of advanced training systems tailored to the B-250 that was first revealed in 2017, and which is due to make its maiden flight at a production model standard later in 2025.

“Under the signed agreement, Havelsan will develop simulators and integrated training solutions that will constitute the core of the B-250 training infrastructure,” the announcement said. “This agreement builds upon the initial protocol signed during SAHA EXPO [in Istanbul] in October 2023, and was formalised following the successful technical and commercial negotiations,” it added.

Per the agreement, Havelsan will deliver a flight training device, part-task trainers, a briefing and debriefing station, a cockpit entry and exit simulator, and a computer-based training system.

The B-250 is a single-engined, tandem twin-seat aircraft that is being developed in the UAE by Calidus with input from Brazilian company Novaer. It features the Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion avionics suite and a retractable electro-optical/infrared sensor turret, and is provisioned with six underwing and one underfuselage hardpoints. Besides the COIN role, the aircraft is billed as being suitable for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); close air support (CAS); and advanced pilot training.

For more information on the developed Calidus B-250, please see IDEX 2025: Calidus B-250 turboprop set for first flight