Dubai Airshow opened on Sunday, November 14, with an impressive flypast of United Arab Emirates Air Force and Air Defence (UAEAF&AD) aircraft. Among them were most types flown by the Joint Aviation Command (JAC), in addition to the newer UAEAF&AD aircraft including the Airbus A330MRTT, Saab GlobalEye and Boeing C-17A Globemaster III.
The six JAC helicopters comprised an AH-64D Apache, Bell 407MRH, UH-60M Armed Black Hawk, AS365N3 Dauphin, AS332 Puma and Boeing CH-47D. They were followed by an Etihad Boeing 777 escorted by the seven MB339NATs of the UAE’s Al Fursan aerobatic team. Then came a mixture of airliners, before the Saab GlobalEye made its first public flying appearance, flanked by a pair of Mirage 2000-9EAD/RADs, an Airbus A330MRTT multirole tanker transport with two Mirage 2000-9s, then four F-16 Block 61s and a Boeing C-17A Globemaster III. The latter was undoubtedly the star of the formation, after it let rip with a huge volley of flares, normally used for self-defence.
On the ground, there is an impressive mix of exhibits coming from all over the world. For the first time, the Hongdu L-15 is making an appearance at an airshow outside of China. The example in static is surrounded by a plethora of weapons, illustrating the powerful punch that this small jet trainer could provide as a light attack option.
India’s Tejas light combat aircraft is also making its debut at Dubai and, just like the L-15A, there is one in both the static and flying displays. The Russians are also here, with a mix of debutants. During the opening day’s three-hour air show, the Kamov Ka-52 Alligator showed off its agility in a ten-minute display. There is also an Mi-28NE Night Hunter present, although it did not appear in the flying display. At 4.30pm, Sukhoi revealed their new fifth-generation Checkmate fighter to the media inside their roofed arena in the static area. Back in July the Su-75 (serialled RF-00075) was presented to the public at Moscow’s MAKS exhibition.
The slick half-hour-long presentation here, highlighted the capabilities that this new fifth-generation fighter will bring, including a new airborne electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. We were told the aircraft, a second prototype, will make its first flight in 2023 with small batch production starting in 2025-26.
Elsewhere in the static there is an assortment of JAC helicopters in addition to a new Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, fitted with an L3Harris MX-15 EO/IR system. Further down the ramp, an IOMAX AT802i Archangel armed surveillance aircraft fitted with a mix of weapons is on display. Close by, UAE’s Calidus has finally unveiled the big B-350 after years of trying to keep it under wraps and, judging from the weapons hanging from under the wings of the new platform, it will fulfil a BPA role.
The UAEAF&AD is investing much into Calidus, with a $620 million deal for 24 Calidus B-250 turboprop trainer/light attack aircraft, announced at the last airshow here in 2019. It is unclear if the alleged design issues that have dogged the aircraft’s development have yet been fixed.
Airbus is showing off a UAEAF&AD C295, while an RAF A400M is being used to market the virtues of the tactical airlifter. The USAF also has a sizeable presence, with the E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) being a big surprise exhibit. The heavily converted Global 6000 was used by the USAF as a communications relay aircraft over the skies of Afghanistan in recent times.
By Alan Warnes
