Promising turboprop attack aircraft Calidus B-350
The United Arab Emirates is currently hosting the Dubai Airshow-2021 international air show. One of the main and most interesting novelties of this event was the promising B-350 turboprop attack aircraft from the Emirati Calidus LLC group of companies. It differs from other vehicles of its class by its increased size and weight, due to which it can carry a significant combat load.
On the way to the exhibition
The Calidus group has been dealing with turboprop attack aircraft for a long time. Back in 2017, she presented a promising B-250 aircraft, and later received the first order for the serial production of such equipment. It is curious that the direct development and construction of such an attack aircraft was carried out by the Brazilian company Novaer and its subcontractors, while Calidus LLC acted as the initiator, organizer and investor. Probably, this approach paid off, and it was used in the development of the next project.
At the end of last year, the corporate magazine of the Czech company Charvát Group sro first mentioned the Calidus B-350 project and revealed some of its details. It has been argued that it will be a multipurpose combat training aircraft, and its development is being carried out with the support of the UAE government. Some design features and specifications were reported. It was also mentioned that Charvát is involved in the project as a chassis developer.
The official premiere of the B-350 project took place on November 14, the first day of the Dubai Airshow-2021. The static display included a full-size model of the future attack aircraft. All the nodes of the external suspension under the wing are occupied by layouts of various weapons, and several more such items were laid out in front of the plane.
As follows from the published data, in the near future the construction of the first flight prototype will be completed and its tests will begin. Czech aircraft manufacturers report that they have been ordered three sets of landing gear for prototype aircraft. According to the terms of the contract, the first one must be handed over in 18 months. after the conclusion of the contract, and the other two are expected within the next one and a half years. The date of the signing of the agreement is unknown, but, most likely, it was the beginning or the middle of 2020.
Technical features
According to previous publications, the Calidus B-350 is a multipurpose combat training aircraft. Such a machine can really be used to train pilots. However, the technical appearance shows that the aircraft is primarily intended for striking ground targets.
The B-350 has a normal aerodynamic design. It has an elongated fuselage approx. 15 m. In the bow there is a propulsion system, and behind it is a tandem two-seater cabin. A low-lying, low-swept wing with a span of more than 16 m is used. The tail assembly is traditional, with a stabilizer and one keel. The landing gear developed by Charvát Group has a nose strut and two main ones under the wing. The maximum take-off weight reaches 9 tons.
As with the previous B-250, the airframe of the new aircraft is almost entirely made of composites. Due to this, it was possible to obtain an advantageous ratio of strength and weight. In particular, the saved weight of the airframe makes it possible to improve the possible flight characteristics and increase the combat load.
The attack aircraft received a Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 turboprop engine with a capacity of 2600 hp. with a six-blade screw. The estimated flight performance has not yet been disclosed.
The aircraft must carry all the necessary flight and communication equipment in two cockpits. Probably, the equipment of the cabins is different: in one the pilot works, and the other is intended for the operator. An optical-electronic "ball" with day, night and rangefinder channels is suspended under the bottom. With its help, the crew can search for targets at any time of the day and use guided weapons of various types.
Due to the large size and mass of the structure, an increase in the payload and combat qualities is ensured. It was possible to place 14 suspension points under the wing. The maximum load exceeds 3800 kg. The exhibition model is "armed" with unguided rockets, air-to-air missiles and guided bombs, which are in service with the UAE Air Force. Holders with other types of weapons are shown separately.
Thus, the newest B-350 aircraft is significantly larger and heavier than the previous B-250, and also favorably differs from it in its increased combat potential. So, the older attack aircraft has a wing span of 12 m and a take-off weight of approx. 6 tons. Only seven suspension points with a total carrying capacity of 1,9 tons were placed under the wing and fuselage.
Advantages and disadvantages
The B-350 project can be considered another attempt to create an "anti-guerrilla" attack aircraft capable of effectively destroying ground targets in a local conflict. The project actively uses modern solutions and technologies, which gives a noticeable increase in the main characteristics and increases combat effectiveness. However, there are also obvious disadvantages.
The main advantages of the new B-350 are related to the increase in size and overall weight, as well as the use of a more powerful engine. All this makes it possible to obtain acceptable flight characteristics, but at the same time to increase the combat load in terms of weight and quantity. Accordingly, an attack aircraft can destroy more targets in one sortie than other vehicles of the same class, including the older B-250. A big plus is the ability to use a wide range of weapons, incl. modern guided missiles and bombs.
The most important innovation of the B-350 project should be considered the built-in optoelectronic station. Due to it, the capabilities for review, search and defeat of targets are sharply increased. At the same time, the use of the ECO and the use of weapons are assigned to the pilot-operator, which reduces the overall workload on the crew and also has a positive effect on the results of combat work.
The obvious disadvantage of the B-350 and B-250 projects is the composite airframe. With all its advantages, this design does not correspond to the specifics of the work of attack aircraft. The "battlefield aircraft" is constantly at risk of injury or damage and can return from almost every sortie with holes. However, composite structures do not differ in maintainability, which will complicate the restoration of attack aircraft. How this problem is solved is a big question.
Commercial prospects
In general, the Calidus B-350 aircraft has significant advantages. He is quite capable of attracting potential customers and bypassing competitors in tenders. However, this machine has not even begun flight tests, and in addition, it was first shown just a few days ago. Accordingly, future buyers are just looking at the new attack aircraft and are waiting for it to be fully appreciated.
The circle of potential customers is not yet known, although there have already been curious rumors. So, on specialized resources it was previously reported that the Calidus group applied for the Armed Overwatch competition from the US Special Operations Command. In May, the customer selected the participants in the program, and the B-350 did not get into it. It is not known whether this aircraft will be offered again to the Pentagon.
In the context of the prospects for the new B-350, one should recall the successes of the older B-250. This aircraft, presented in 2017, became the subject of a contract for the first time in 2019. The UAE Air Force has ordered a batch of 24 of these machines from Calidus LLC. Their production was planned to be established in the UAE, for which they were going to build a new plant. However, the launch of the enterprise and the start of production have not yet been reported. In addition, there are no other orders yet.
Perhaps, in the case of the B-350 project, the UAE armed forces will become the launch customer. Upon completion of flight tests, which will take some time, they can purchase up to several dozen new aircraft. It is possible that by this time its own aircraft plant will start working, and it will have to master the assembly of the second type of attack aircraft.
Thus, the Calidus B-2021 attack aircraft shown at Dubai Airshow-350 is of certain technical interest and is quite capable of attracting the attention of certain customers. However, contracts should be expected only in the future, and at the moment the main task of its creators is to test and fine-tune the design. Without these events, the new aircraft will have no commercial prospects.
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