Calidus, Indra Create Regional Pilot Training Hub

Calidus Holding Group and Indra Group signed a strategic agreement to create a joint venture in the United Arab Emirates that serves the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The venture focuses on the development, local production, integration, and certification of civil and military training simulators across aerospace, defence, and air traffic control systems.

The agreement includes co-development and production of simulator hardware and software, integration of motion and visual systems, and the establishment of a regional simulation and training centre. The centre will provide simulator-based courses for pilots, flight and ground crews, and operators across fixed-wing aircraft, rotary aircraft, gyroplanes, unmanned air vehicles, radars, and other ground-based training systems.

The project aims to localize simulation technologies, develop national technical capabilities, and position Al Ain as a regional hub for certified training and defence innovation. The partnership also focuses on building indigenous engineering expertise through knowledge transfer and joint research and development, contributing to a sustainable simulation technology ecosystem and strengthening local industrial capacity.

“This collaboration represents a strategic step to enhance our capabilities in specialized training and strengthen the Group’s position as a trusted and reliable partner in building and qualifying national and regional cadres. This will be achieved through advanced training infrastructure that meets the demands of the modern operational field and supports our industrial and defence ecosystem. This, in turn, contributes to advancing the defence industry in the UAE and the region, while also benefiting Indra through its presence in the UAE allowing it to operate in an environment rich with promising opportunities,” said Dr. Khalifa Murad Alblooshi, Managing Director and CEO of Calidus Holding Group.

“This technology is essential for preparing not only civil and military pilots but also professionals such as air traffic controllers, who manage critical services for social well-being, ensuring the highest levels of safety and performance,” said José Vicente de los Mozos, Chief Executive Officer of Indra Group.