MD Helicopters to Second Order of Six Armed Cayuse Helicopters to Kenya

MD Helicopters has won a second delivery order issued against its 5-year, $1.4 billion light scout attack helicopter contract.

The firm, fixed-price award is for six armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters for Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), and includes initial logistics support (ILS) for the aircraft, aircraft systems and ground support equipment, the company said in a statement Thursday.

The contract was awarded through US Army Contracting Command. Initial deliveries will take place in April 2019, with all aircraft delivered prior to the August 2019 contract completion date.

The IDIQ Contract vehicle ensures an estimated quantity of up to 150 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior and/or MD 530G attack helicopters are available to US and Partner Nation Military Forces. With the issuance of Delivery Order 2, MD Helicopters is currently under contract to deliver a total of 36 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters.

KDF Cayuse Warrior Configuration

In addition to all-glass cockpit and ballistically tolerant fuel system, Kenya’s MD 530F Cayuse Warrior fleet will be outfitted with the full complement of mission equipment standard to the Cayuse Warrior:

·         FN Herstal Weapons Management System

·         DillonAero Mission Configurable Armament System (MCAS)

·         DillonAero Fixed-Forward Sighting System

·         7.62mm ballistic armor protection

·         FN Herstal .50 caliber HMP 400 Machine Gun Pods

·         M260 7-shot rocket pods

The KDF’s six armed MD 530F aircraft will also include an enhanced communication system that features the Harris RF-7850A tactical radio and the Rockwell Collins HF-9000D.

All aircraft will be delivered with a full US Army-awarded Airworthiness Release (AWR).