The first six of 12 new MD 530F armed scout helicopters the U.S. is supplying to the Afghan Air Force arrived in Kabul earlier this month, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) announced. Six more will be delivered this summer, bringing to 17 the number of single-engine Cayuse Warrior helicopters in the Afghan fleet.
Fitted with .50 caliber gun pods, the MD 530Fs will join armed Russian Mi-17 transport helicopters and Mi-35 gunships to provide close air support of Afghan ground forces battling Taliban insurgents. Also, the USAF announced in January that it has reactivated the 81st fighter squadron at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., to train 30 Afghan pilots and 90 maintainers on the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano turboprop under its Light Air Support program.
The U.S. earlier delivered six MD530Fs to Shindand Air Base in western Afghanistan in 2011; one was lost in 2013 when it landed on an improvised explosive device during a routine training mission, IHS Jane’s has reported. These were used for flight training of Afghan pilots by the U.S. Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization.
Last September, the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., awarded manufacturer MD Helicopters, of Mesa, Ariz., a $35.6 million contract modification to supply 12 new helicopters. In October, it awarded MD Helicopters a $44.2 million contract to install a mission equipment package and performance enhancements on all 17 Cayuse Warriors.
“I and my team have worked tirelessly to exceed the expectations of our U.S. Army and partner nation customers and deliver, for the first time, a production gunship in less than six months,” said MD Helicopters owner and chief executive Lynn Tilton. “I am thrilled to see the Cayuse Warrior arrive safely in Kabul to begin its service with the Afghan Air Force, and I am indelibly proud of my team on the ground for their feat of rapid build and delivery to meet an urgent and compelling need.”
MD Helicopters also announced that it has received a five-month contract modification valued at $31 million for logistics support of the 12 new helicopters, effective with the first delivery on March 17. “This award will serve as a bridge contract for the expanded MD 530F fleet in service with the Afghan Air Force since 2011, and will support an aggressive increase in operational tempo,” the company said.
MD Helicopters attended the Langkawi International Marine and Aerospace (LIMA) show in Malaysia last week with an MD 530G that was demonstrated to local officers and officials. The company reported "lots of interest" in the armed, mid-range model.
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