MD Helicopters Unveils Military Variant of MD-902 at Heli-Expo 2019

MD Helicopters unveiled an armed-variant of its rotorless, twin-engine MD-902 Explorer helicopter at the ongoing Helicopter Association International (HAI) Heli-Expo 2019 in Georgia, US.

The new MD-969 aircraft is being developed as a part of US' Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) programme, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

The light, twin-engine MD 969 Combat Helicopter will have a maximum gross take-off weight of 3,070kg (6,770lb), a range of 367nm (680km), and a cruise speed of 160kt (296km/h), should the ITEP turbine be integrated. Its stub wings have up to six-stations for fixed-forward weapons.

It will have Genesys Aerosystems Advanced IDU-680 integrated all-glass cockpit which can be seen even on MD-530G gunship.

The Genesys systems delivers access to Automatic or Manual Revisionary Modes, 3D Synthetic Vision, Geo-Referenced Hover Vector, Night Vision A&B Capabilities, Weather Radar Integration, Integrated ADS-B Traffic Display, Engine Instrument Crew Advisory System (EICAS), Flight Data Recording, Graphical FMS/VHF Navigation, an internal radio, and moving maps.

In addition to advanced avionics, the new Combat Helicopter also features MDHI-designed integrated composite weapons plank that allows up to 6-station, fixed-forward weapons installation while maintaining unimpeded, full-cabin access to support simultaneous forward fire, crew-served weapons, and personnel transport missions.

The up-to-8-seat MD-969 Combat Helicopter is single-pilot IFR certified, and safely and effectively executes a broad range of military, para-military and utility missions including Fast Attack, Combat Search & Rescue, CASEVAC/MEDEVAC, Command & Control, and Personnel Transport.