News Story: MD Helicopters Lands $1.4B (Afghan) Order

An earlier batch of MD-530 Helicopters for Afghanistan

by Mark Huber

MD Helicopters (MDHI) has been awarded a five-year, $1.385 billion contract to provide up to 150 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters to the Afghan Air Force. The foreign military sale was contracted through the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

The contract includes program management, delivery support, pilot training and maintenance. First contract deliveries will include a block of 30 MD 530Fs valued at $176.6 million to be delivered by September 2019.

Read the full story at AINonline

USA: Dunford Says Aviation Brings 'Asymmetric Advantage' to Afghan Force

By Lisa Ferdinando

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

KABUL, Afghanistan, July 21, 2016 — As the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended briefings at the U.S. Air Force’s 438th Air Expeditionary Wing at Kabul International Airport here, a special delivery arrived for the Afghan air force.

Five new MD-530 Cayuse Warrior helicopters were wheeled off a C-17 Globemaster III transport from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The attack helicopters were moved into position where Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford would soon inspect those and other aircraft used by Afghan forces in the fight against the Taliban.

Air Force Lt. Col. James Detweiler, the 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group deputy commander, said the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing/ Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air is supporting a functional, capable and sustainable Afghan air force. "It takes quite a while to build an air force, especially when you're trying to almost build it from scratch," he said. With the latest delivery, the Afghan air force has 23 MD-530s.

An objective of the training mission is to teach the Afghans how to integrate the air power with other air assets and ground forces, he said. While U.S. pilots are fully trained before undertaking a mission, the Afghan forces are training while executing combat missions, Detweiler said, adding that the Afghan forces are resilient and eager to learn.

"It's really impressive to watch them work and continue to move through the problem sets and continue training, continue flying combat operations all at the same time," he said.

News Story: MDHI Secures Launch Customer for 530G

by Kerry Lynch

MD Helicopters (MDHI) bolstered its military business with the signing of a launch customer for its MD 530G scout attack helicopter. The Malaysia Ministry of Defense signed a contract to take delivery of six of the upgraded model. Plans call for MDHI to begin delivery of the helicopters to Malaysian army aviation, Pasukan Udara Teneter Darat(PUDT), late this year with all six to be handed over the end of the first quarter of 2017.

The MD 530G first flew in 2013 and MDHI formally announced the helicopter and completed live-fire testing a year later. The next in line to the 530F that was certified more than 30 years ago, the 530G is fitted with more robust landing gear to support a 3,750-pound mtow that increases payload for range, endurance and weapons. The helicopter has a top speed of 130 knots.

The aircraft is configured to accommodate an integrated on-board stores management system, FLIR, guided and unguided rockets and inboard .50 caliber machine guns. The Malaysian army’s fleet of MD 530G helicopters will be equipped with a custom weapons package, advanced communications capabilities and electro-optical/infrared sensors to detect a range of threats.

Read the full story at AINonline

News Story: Malaysia Prepares for New Scout

by Chris Pocock

The Malaysian Army is the launch customer for the latest version of the MD530 Scout attack helicopter made by MD Helicopters in the U.S. Deliveries of six MD530Gs will start in the fourth quarter and be complete by the end of the first quarter 2017. The MD530G has a beefed-up landing gear to support a maximum gross takeoff weight (MGTOW) of 3,750 pounds, allowing additional fuel and weapons.

In Malaysia’s case, AIN understands that the weapons will include a Dillon Aero M134 minigun, which is believed to be a key reason for the buy. The Malaysian Army already operates 10 Finmeccanica (formerly AgustaWestland) AW109 helicopters armed with a side-mounted gun. But the new fleet of MD530Gs will be operated in Sabah, East Malaysia, which has faced significant security issues.

Read the full story at AINonline

Editorial: Biggest US-Malaysia Arms Deal in 20 Years - Kuala Lumpur to Receive New Attack Helicopters

By Franz-Stefan Gady

MD Helicopters has been awarded a contract to supply six MD 530G scout attack helicopters to Malaysia’s military.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense has selected U.S.-based aircraft maker MD Helicopters to supply six MD 530G scout attack helicopters to the Army Aviation branch, Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat (PUTD), of the Malaysian Army, according to a MD Helicopters press release.

Delivery of the helicopters is slated to begin at the end of this year with the full fleet scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2017, the press release states. The contract is the biggest U.S.-Malaysian arms deal since Kuala Lumpur placed an order for eight F/A-18DS fighter aircraft in June 1993.

“We are honored that the MD 530G—our next generation light scout attack helicopter—was selected by the Malaysian prime minister, minister of defense and the chief of defense force (CDF) to be the newest addition to the Malaysian Armed Forces,” said Lynn Tilton, chief executive officer for MD Helicopters.

The MD 530G gunship was first revealed to the Malaysian public at the March 2015 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition. According toIHS Jane’s Defense Weekly, the helicopter is powered by a Rolls-Royce 250-C30 turbine engine, has a top cruising speed of 130 knots, and can carry a load of 862 kilograms (1,900 pounds) over a range of 519 kilometers (322 miles).

Read the full story at The Diplomat