At the international trade fair for defense, aerospace and aviation, the Saha Expo 2024 in Istanbul, an important strategic partnership was entered into between Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Defense contractor Calidus Aerospace LLC announced the signing of an agreement with Havelsan for the sale of a Ground Based Training System (GBTS) for the UAE’s flagship indigenous Calidus platforms.
Havelsan is the region’s leading provider of simulation and training solutions with extensive experience and a vast product range, including command & control systems, cybersecurity solutions and unmanned autonomous systems.
The companies signed an agreement for the development and delivery of full mission simulators, part task trainers and related supporting training solutions for Calidus aircraft. The solution will be customized for each future Calidus customer and specifically tailored to the different tasks and requirements. This is the statement of the two companies. Khalifa Alblooshi, CEO of Calidus Holding Group, commented on the agreement in an official company press release: “Calidus is proud to be able to offer its customers unparalleled added value with this agreement. With this in mind, we are delighted to have selected Havelsan, a leading solution provider, to meet our demanding requirements for a modern, fully connected and future-proof training solution for our B-250 program, enabling us to train the fighter pilots of today and tomorrow.”
The manager continued: “This agreement is a welcome step in expanding our partnership with a company that shares our commitment to excellence. This collaboration will not only ensure that existing requirements for an advanced training system are met, but will also provide a foundation for next generation training solutions for our upcoming variants. The resulting capability will serve to ensure simultaneous upgrades to the training solution as aircraft capabilities evolve. This is in line with Calidus’ core values and vision as the UAE’s only national aviation technology company to deliver industry-leading solutions to our customers in the region and internationally.”
Mehmet Akif Nacar, CEO of Havelsan, also expressed his satisfaction with the new partnership: “We are delighted to be working with Calidus on this important project, utilizing our extensive expertise in developing advanced Ground Based Training Systems (GBTS) for the Calidus Aerial Platforms. As Havelsan, we are focused on delivering mission-critical solutions that enhance the operational capabilities of both civil and military aviation. The Full Mission Simulators and Part Task Trainers we supply are designed to provide realistic and comprehensive training environments that ensure personnel are prepared for a wide range of operational scenarios.” https://militaeraktuell.at/wehrpolitischer-dachverband-bundesheer/ Nacar continues: “Our vision is to remain at the forefront of simulation technologies and to continuously develop our solutions to meet the evolving needs of our partners and customers. Through our collaboration with Calidus, we aim to build a long-term, strategic partnership that not only supports technology transfer and local production capabilities, but also opens up new collaboration opportunities for both companies. This project is a cornerstone of our broader vision to contribute to bilateral, regional and global cooperation efforts in the field of simulation and training technologies by offering proven, innovative and advanced technologies.” Currently, the Calidus B-250 is in service exclusively with the UAE Air Force. The two companies hope to find further customers for the system in the course of signing the contract.
