Calidus, Novaer Launch B-250 Aircraft at Dubai Air Show

21.11.2017 Products
Calidus, Novaer Launch B-250 Aircraft at Dubai Air Show

Calidus, Novaer Launch B-250 Aircraft at Dubai Air Show

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Developed by Novaer for the company Calidus, of the United Arab Emirates, the B-250 was one of the main attractions at the Dubai Air Show, which ended Thursday (November 16th), in Dubai.

The B-250 is the only light attack aircraft designed in the 21st century specifically to carry out COIN (insurgency combat), CAS (close air support) and ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and advanced training missions. To achieve this, it has superior useful load capacity, complete provisions for any type of sensors and equipment, unparalleled accelerations and climb rates, as well as an endurance of up to 12 hours.

The launch of the aircraft was attended by the Brazilian Air Force Commander, Lieutenant-Air Brigadier Nivaldo Rossato, and the General Support Command Chief Of Staff (COMGAP), Major-Air Brigadier José Augusto Crepaldi. Novaer's executives were also honored by Director of Defense Products, Dr. Flávio Augusto Correa Basílio, representing the Defense Minister, Raul Jungmann, and the Department of Defense Products of the Ministry of Defense’s Director, Air Brigadier Paulo Roberto de Barros Chã. They were in the company of the Brazilian Ambassador, Fernando Luis Lemos Igreja.

The attendance of the authorities was an important demonstration of the support of the Brazilian Air Force to the Programand the national defense industry.

“Novaer is honored to have earned Calidus' trust in this partnership to develop the B-250. I believe we have met the expectation by doing something unprecedented in the aviation industry. We conceived, designed and manufactured a complex and sophisticated aircraft, all in carbon fiber, and flew the first prototype 25 months after the start of work,” said Graciliano Campos, CEO of Novaer.

The carbon fiber allows to minimize the weight of the structure and optimizes the manufacturing process. In addition, it results in cleaner aerodynamic surfaces, which generate less drag. The reason for the intensive use of composite materials was to obtain the maximum result of the same engine used by practically all the airplanes of the category. The aircraft was developed under the leadership of aeronautical engineer Marcelo Ramon Ferroni, technical director of Novaer.

The carbon fiber allows to minimize the weight of the structure and optimizes the manufacturing process. In addition, it results in smoother aerodynamic surfaces, which generate less drag. The reason for the intensive use of composite materials was to obtain the maximum result of the same engine used by practically all the airplanes of the category.

An important differential of the B-250 is the cockpit, larger and able to comfortably accommodate pilots with a height of 1.57 to 2.00 meters, and state-of-the-art from Rockwell Collins avionics, favoring long journeys. The program provides for the serial manufacture of aircraft in the United Arab Emirates.

The agreement with Calidus allowed exports of services and high technology products to be included in the Brazilian trade balance to the United Arab Emirates, which until then was dominated by commodities, representing an important parcel of total exports to that country. The cost of the Program represents less than half of any project of this nature already developed in the world. This was possible due to the Novaer lean structure and innovative program management philosophy.

“Novaer believes that it is time to reverse the divergent spiral of development costs, particularly in the area of Defense, in tune with more controlled budgets. We believe that Novaer's ability to provide efficient and innovative solutions to aircraft and its systems will bring us new partnerships beyond the B-250 program and will generate new business for both companies. Novaer has proven to be capable of conducting challenging developments in the aeronautics and defense industry and we are ready for the next challenge,” Graciliano affirmed.

The company also presented at the Dubai Air Show the T-Xc Sovi aircraft, in the primary and basic military training version. 

 



 
 

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