Bill Carey

MD Helicopters announced contract awards from the U.S. Army to supply and arm MD 530F single-turbine helicopters for the Afghan Air Force. With the U.S. drawing down forces in Afghanistan, the armed helicopters “will expand armed escort, scout attack and close air attack capabilities in support of an increasing operational tempo in the region,” the manufacturer said.

 


On October 1, the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., awarded the manufacturer a $44.2 million contract to install a weapon system on 17 single-engine MD530Fs, which MD Helicopters calls the Cayuse Warrior. The Army expects the contract will be completed by September. 29&nbsp;next year, 2015.

 


The mission equipment package and performance enhancements MD Helicopters will install includes high-capacity landing gear that allows takeoff and landing at 3,750 pounds maximum weight “through the incorporation of jettisonable external stores,” FN Herstal FN HMP400 ammunition pod and FN M3P .50-caliber machine gun, Mace Aviation ER2W extended-range weapons wing, Rhode &amp; Schwarz M3AR tactical radio, Robertson fuel system and Kinetic Defense ballistic armor panels.

 


The weapon-system contract followed a contract option the Army Non–Standard Rotary Wing Aircraft Project Office exercised with MD Helicopters in September to supply 12 MD 530Fs for the Afghan force. The Mesa, Ariz.-based manufacturer did not disclose the value of the option, which the Associated Press reported was $35.6 million. MD Helicopters said it is on schedule to deliver the first six MD530Fs under the option during the first quarter of next year2015, with the balance following by mid-year.

 


“These 12 MD530Fs will be initially configured to train Afghan pilots for operation in austere flight conditions,” the manufacturer said. “Designed for easy modification in response to changing threat levels, these aircraft will be reconfigured to operate the weapon systems necessary to deliver mission-specific light attack capabilities.”

 


The U.S. delivered the first MD530F to Shindand Air Base in western Afghanistan in 2011. Since then, Afghan pilots have logged more than 5,700 hours flying five helicopters for initial entry rotary- wing training, the manufacturer said.

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