Afghanistan to Receive 12 New MD530 Attack Helicopters

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has placed an order for 12 more MD530F Cayuse Warrior light attack helicopters fitted with a so-called Enhanced Mission Equipment Package (EMEP) for the 2016 fighting season, MD Helicopters, Inc. announced in a January 11 press release.
MD Helicopters already delivered 12 MD530F Cayuse Warrior aircraft to the AAF for the 2015 fighting season and has also converted five unarmed MH-6 Little Bird helicopters into MD530F light attack gunships, bringing the total number of Cayuse Warrior light attack aircraft in the AAF up to 16.
thediplomat

Afghanistan rolls out armed MD 530F helos

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has rolled out into service its newly delivered armed MD Helicopters Inc (MDHI) MD 530F helicopters.
The roll-out ceremony took place at Kabul International Airport on 9 April, and saw one of the first six helicopters delivered perform a live-fire demonstration of its twin FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun Pods (HMPs).
The arrival of the armed MD 530Fs into AAF service will provide a timely boost to the government's close air support capabilities ahead of the 2015 'fighting season' in the country. Between 17 and 20 such helicopters are expected to be fully operational by early 2016.
Once in service, they will augment machine gun-equipped Mil Mi-17 'Hip' and machine gun- and rocket-equipped Mi-35 'Hind' helicopters, as well as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop aircraft that is due to arrive towards the end of 2015.
The AAF already operates five MD 530F helicopters as trainers (six were delivered in 2011, but one was lost to an improvised explosive device in 2013).
janes

MD-530 helicopters to officially join Afghan Air Force on Thursday, 9th April

The McDonnell Douglas (MD-530) helicopters are set to officially join the Afghan Air Force (AAF) on coming Thursday.
The Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Saturday that the helicopters will enter service during a ceremony which is scheduled on Thursday, 9th of April.
Armed Mi-17s and MD-530s give the Afghan Air Force six times the number of armed aircraft for Fighting Season 2015 as compared to last fighting season, which only employed five Mi-35s.
Around 17 of the Afghan Air Force’s MD-530F helicopter will be upgraded under the contract which is expected to be completed early next year.
MD-530F helicopters are designed for high altitude and/or hot weather operations, where thinner air costs helicopters some of their lift.
khaama

Afghanistan receives first armed MD 530

The first of 20 armed MD 530 helicopters for the Afghan Air Force arrived in-country ahead of the 2015 'fighting season'.
The first six MD 530F at an undisclosed location - most likely Shindand Air Base in Herat Province, where the current trainer fleet is located - aboard a Boeing 747 freighter the previous night.
These helicopters will now be reassembled over the coming weeks before being pressed into fire support for the Afghan National Security Forces.
The armed MD 530s will operate alongside the machine-gun-equipped Mil Mi-17 'Hip' and machine gun and rocket-equipped Mi-35 'Hind' helicopters, as well as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop aircraft, due to arrive towards the end of 2015.
The AAF already operates five MD 530F helicopters as trainers. The armed helicopters are fitted with M3 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) machine gun. .
janes

Afghanistan to receive additional armed MD 530F helos

Afghanistan Air Force is to receive 20 armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters to provide additional fire-support to the country's security forces.
The United States is to donate the 20 armed MD 530F helicopters in addition to those unarmed platforms already fielded as trainers.
Afghanistan has five MD 530F trainer helicopters in service. It would seem that a further eight platforms have now been added to this follow-on order.
The MD 530Fs will be equipped with gun pods and rockets, and will be armoured to protect the two crew members. The weapons package will comprise the FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun Pod (HMP), featuring the company's M3 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) machine gun. This HMP, which will be carried on external weapons planks, has a rate of fire of 1,100 rds/min and a 400-round ammunition box.
To accommodate the extra weight of this equipment, the helicopters will be upgraded with high-capacity landing gear.
Work to weaponise these helicopters will commence shortly. Deliveries to Afghanistan are expected to begin later in the year. Once in service, these armed MD 530F platforms will provide fire-support alongside the machine-gun-equipped Mil Mi-17 'Hip' and machine gun and rocket-equipped Mi-35 'Hind' helicopters, as well as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light attack turboprop aircraft, due to arrive towards the end of 2015.
The MD 530F is the latest in a line of MD 500-series helicopters that trace their lineage back to the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse of the Vietnam War.
janes

Afghanistan to weaponise MD 530F helos

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) is to arm its MD 530F helicopters to give them a dual role as both training and close-support platforms.
The five helicopters in service and the 12 recently ordered will be equipped with a Mission Equipment Package (MEP) under a USD44.2 million contract awarded by the US Army on behalf of the AAF.
Weapons package will comprise the FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun Pod , featuring the company's M3 12.7 mm (.50 calibre) machine gun. This HMP, which will be carried on external weapons planks, has a rate of fire of 1,100 rds/min and a 400-round ammunition box. Other enhancements will include the Rhode & Schwarz M3AR tactical radio communications system, the Robertson Fuel System, and Kinetic Defense ballistic armour panels.
janes