Afghanistan Orders 12 MD-530F Attack Helicopters

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has placed an order for a dozen MD-530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters with US firm MD Helicopters.

“MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) is proud to announce receipt of the fourth Delivery Order issued against its 5-year, $1.4 billion light scout attack helicopter IDIQ contract. The Firm Fixed-Price award is for up to 12 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters for the Afghan Air Force (AAF), currently the largest MD 530F Cayuse Warrior operator globally,” the company said in a statement on November 25.

On November 22, the AAF received 5 of these helicopters, taking the total number of MD-530Fs in service with the country to 60. The AAF is currently the largest MD 530F Cayuse Warrior operator globally.

The contract vehicle is intended to ensure the availability of up to 150 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior and/or MD 530G attack helicopters to the US and partner nation military forces.

So far, 54 of 150 helicopters are under contract with multiple operators. The company said that all Air Force MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light scout attack helicopters supplied to Afghanistan are powered by the Rolls-Royce 250-C30 650shp turbine engine.

The helicopters feature an advanced, all-glass cockpit, DillonAero Fixed-Forward Sighting System, ballistically tolerant crashworthy main and auxiliary fuel system, DillonAero Mission Configurable Armament System (MCAS), FN Herstal HMP 400 .50 calibre Machine Gun Pods, ballistic armour protection, and M260 7-shot rocket pods.