The original OH-6 Cayuse helicopter proved its worth during the Vietnam War in the light helicopter role. The designers at Hughes realized there was a market for a light multi-mission helicopter with an improved equipment fit than the OH-6 and Model 500M. The resulting design was the Model 500MD Defender which first flew in 1976. It was tailored for specific roles including unarmed observation and an armed scout helicopter equipped with TOW anti-tank missiles. An anti-submarine version was developed with a search radar, magnetic anomaly detector and the capability to carry lightweight aerial torpedoes.
The helicopter was popular with customers like Kenya who could buy a capable anti-armor helicopter for less than half the cost of a gunship such as the AH-1 Cobra or the AH-64 Apache. Israel used the Defender extensively during the conflicts of the late 1970s and 1980s against Syrian armored forces.
The Defender was later built as an improved version as the MD530MG, with increased engine power, handling, avionics, and a redesigned forward fuselage. Later developments included a mast mounted sight (MMS).
Korean Air Unmanned System-Vertical Helicopter (KUS-VH)
In December 2012, Boeing demonstrated their Unmanned Little Bird to the South Korean Army. The pilotless aircraft flew autonomously in a 25-minute demonstration for the purpose of showing unmanned capabilities technologies, such as enhanced ISR and resupply, in the system that could be integrated into Army MD 500 helicopters.[1] In October 2015, Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) unveiled a mock-up of their unmanned MD 500, designated the Korean Air Unmanned System-Vertical Helicopter (KUS-VH), featuring blacked out windows, a large fuel tank where the rear seats would be that extends endurance to four hours, and an armament of two Hellfire missiles and a 2.75 in (70 mm) rocket pod; unlike Boeing's optionally manned and unarmed ULB, the KUS-VH is completely unmanned and armed as well as having an EO/IR sensor. The KUS-VH is envisioned to perform missions including ISR, attack, aerial delivery, coast guard, amphibious landing support, and emergency reinforcement to back up manned helicopter units. A KUS-VH unit would consist of two to four aircraft and sensor packages, a ground control system and ground support system, and it could operate alone or in conjunction with manned attack helicopters. A request for proposals for an unmanned scout helicopter is expected in 2016–2017, for which the company says making the up to 175 MD 500s unmanned would be a cheap way of reusing them after retirement[2] from service over the next 10 years for safely performing dangerous attack missions.[citation needed]
MD Helicopters had submitted a version called the MD 540F in the U.S. Army's Armed Aerial Scout program. This caused Boeing to try to block MD Helicopters from participating, citing agreements the companies struck in 2005 to offer the Mission Enhanced Little Bird in the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program. As part of the venture, MD Helicopters sold intellectual property related to the aircraft's design. The two companies lost the bid and the program was ultimately cancelled. When MD Helicopters disclosed plans to offer the MD 540F in the AAS program in April 2012, Boeing claimed that they could not sell any "similarly configured" aircraft to any U.S. or foreign military organization. Boeing offered their AH-6 in the competition. MD Helicopters said Boeing did not object to previous sales to armed forces and governments in Japan, Jordan, and Italy, as well as to U.S. special operations, and local U.S. police forces. Restrictions on selling aircraft similar to the Little Bird, domestically or to foreign users, would have put the company out of business. In July 2013, a federal court ruled that MD Helicopters could not be blocked from offering their aircraft.[3] The Army ended the AAS program in late 2013.[4]
Variantsedit
ROCN Hughes 500MD/ASW Defender 6910 carried on Lan Yang (FFG-935)Philippine Air Force MD 520MG light attack helicopters
500D Scout Defender
Armed reconnaissance version
500M Defender
Military export version of the 500 and 500C, built under license by Kawasaki in Japan (as the OH-6J)[5] and Breda Nardi in Italy.
Built under license by Breda Nardi (Agusta) since 1990[6][7]
NH-500M Defender
Italian-built version of the 500M Defender. Licensed by Breda Nardi before merge with Agusta.[8]
500MD Defender
Military version of the 500D. Korean Air's aerospace division from 1976 to 1984 with 200 choppers made.[9] 50 were armed with TOW anti-tank missiles and 150 choppers used for transportation and support duties.[9] Retired 500MDs donated to Kenya for Kenyan-led peacekeeping operations.[10]
500MD/ASW Defender
Maritime version of the 500MD Defender. Equipped with a Bendix RDR-1300 search radar in a nose cone offset to the port side, and a towed ASQ-81C(V)2 magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) at the starboard fuselage. Up to two Mk 44 or Mk 46 torpedoes are carried underneath the fuselage, which can be replaced by smoke markers.[11]
Anti-tank version, fitted with a mast-mounted sight, armed with TOW anti-tank missiles.
500MD Quiet Advanced Scout Defender
Fitted with noise suppression equipment.
500MD Defender II
Improved version.
500MG Defender
Military version of the 500E.
520MG Defender
Philippine Air Force-built military version. Modified 500MG Defender that carries .50 (12.7 mm) caliber machine guns and 7-tube rocket pods and operates as a light attack aircraft.[12]
It is a military light scout attack helicopter developed from OH-6 Cayuse.[14][15] It incorporating simple fixed-forward sighting system, FN Herstal weapons management system, Rohde & Schwarz M3AR tactical mission radio and Dillon Aero mission configurable armament system (MCAS) weapons plank.[16][15]
Performance: Service ceiling 16,000 feet (4,900 m), range 235 nautical miles (435 km), cruising speed 135 nautical miles (250 km) per hour.[14]
Weapons: Two hardpoints for FN HMP400 gun pod with FN M3P .50 BMG (12.7 mm) heavy machine gun (1100 rpm firing rate, carries 400 rounds ammo, effective firing range nearly 1,850 m, maximum firing range 6500 m) and/or M260 rocket pod with 7 unguided Hydra 70 rockets (effective firing range 8 km).[15][17][18]
On September 26, 2023 the Nigerian Government approved the purchase of 12 MD 530F helicopters for the Nigerian Army which currently does not have a functional aviation unit.
MD 530M
Military version.
MD 530MG Defender
Military version.
MD 530G BII
Improved military version
MD530 Nightfox
Night attack version.
MD530MG Paramilitary Defender
Police or border patrol version.
MD540F
Upgraded MD530F, incorporating a 6-bladed, fully articulated rotor blade system made of composite material, a more rugged landing skid for heavier take-off and landing weights, a fully integrated digital glass cockpit with multi-function color displays and a pilot Helmet Display and Tracking System (HDTS), which couples together a targeting FLIR and laser designator.[20]
MD530G
Designed based on the MD530F airframe and is engineered with advanced technology to deliver enhanced combat capabilities.[21]
mcdonnell, douglas, defender, mcdonnell, douglas, helicopter, systems, defender, light, multi, role, military, helicopter, based, light, utility, helicopter, cayuse, light, observation, helicopter, defender, finnish, army, role, light, multi, role, military, h. The McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD 500 Defender is a light multi role military helicopter based on the MD 500 light utility helicopter and OH 6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter MD 500 Defender A Finnish Army MD 500 Role Light multi role military helicopter National origin United States Manufacturer Hughes HelicoptersMcDonnell Douglas Helicopter SystemsMD Helicopters First flight 1976 Status In service Primary users Republic of Korea ArmyIraqi Air ForceIsraeli Air ForcePhilippine Air Force Produced 1976 present Number built 471 Developed from Hughes OH 6 CayuseMD Helicopters MD 500 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 3 1 Military operators 3 2 Former operators 4 Specifications 500M 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDesign and development editThe original OH 6 Cayuse helicopter proved its worth during the Vietnam War in the light helicopter role The designers at Hughes realized there was a market for a light multi mission helicopter with an improved equipment fit than the OH 6 and Model 500M The resulting design was the Model 500MD Defender which first flew in 1976 It was tailored for specific roles including unarmed observation and an armed scout helicopter equipped with TOW anti tank missiles An anti submarine version was developed with a search radar magnetic anomaly detector and the capability to carry lightweight aerial torpedoes The helicopter was popular with customers like Kenya who could buy a capable anti armor helicopter for less than half the cost of a gunship such as the AH 1 Cobra or the AH 64 Apache Israel used the Defender extensively during the conflicts of the late 1970s and 1980s against Syrian armored forces The Defender was later built as an improved version as the MD530MG with increased engine power handling avionics and a redesigned forward fuselage Later developments included a mast mounted sight MMS nbsp Korean Air Unmanned System Vertical Helicopter KUS VH In December 2012 Boeing demonstrated their Unmanned Little Bird to the South Korean Army The pilotless aircraft flew autonomously in a 25 minute demonstration for the purpose of showing unmanned capabilities technologies such as enhanced ISR and resupply in the system that could be integrated into Army MD 500 helicopters 1 In October 2015 Korean Air Aerospace Division KAL ASD unveiled a mock up of their unmanned MD 500 designated the Korean Air Unmanned System Vertical Helicopter KUS VH featuring blacked out windows a large fuel tank where the rear seats would be that extends endurance to four hours and an armament of two Hellfire missiles and a 2 75 in 70 mm rocket pod unlike Boeing s optionally manned and unarmed ULB the KUS VH is completely unmanned and armed as well as having an EO IR sensor The KUS VH is envisioned to perform missions including ISR attack aerial delivery coast guard amphibious landing support and emergency reinforcement to back up manned helicopter units A KUS VH unit would consist of two to four aircraft and sensor packages a ground control system and ground support system and it could operate alone or in conjunction with manned attack helicopters A request for proposals for an unmanned scout helicopter is expected in 2016 2017 for which the company says making the up to 175 MD 500s unmanned would be a cheap way of reusing them after retirement 2 from service over the next 10 years for safely performing dangerous attack missions citation needed MD Helicopters had submitted a version called the MD 540F in the U S Army s Armed Aerial Scout program This caused Boeing to try to block MD Helicopters from participating citing agreements the companies struck in 2005 to offer the Mission Enhanced Little Bird in the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program As part of the venture MD Helicopters sold intellectual property related to the aircraft s design The two companies lost the bid and the program was ultimately cancelled When MD Helicopters disclosed plans to offer the MD 540F in the AAS program in April 2012 Boeing claimed that they could not sell any similarly configured aircraft to any U S or foreign military organization Boeing offered their AH 6 in the competition MD Helicopters said Boeing did not object to previous sales to armed forces and governments in Japan Jordan and Italy as well as to U S special operations and local U S police forces Restrictions on selling aircraft similar to the Little Bird domestically or to foreign users would have put the company out of business In July 2013 a federal court ruled that MD Helicopters could not be blocked from offering their aircraft 3 The Army ended the AAS program in late 2013 4 Variants edit nbsp ROCN Hughes 500MD ASW Defender 6910 carried on Lan Yang FFG 935 nbsp Philippine Air Force MD 520MG light attack helicopters 500D Scout Defender Armed reconnaissance version 500M Defender Military export version of the 500 and 500C built under license by Kawasaki in Japan as the OH 6J 5 and Breda Nardi in Italy 500M ASW Defender Export version for the Spanish Navy NH 500E Built under license by Breda Nardi Agusta since 1990 6 7 NH 500M Defender Italian built version of the 500M Defender Licensed by Breda Nardi before merge with Agusta 8 500MD Defender Military version of the 500D Korean Air s aerospace division from 1976 to 1984 with 200 choppers made 9 50 were armed with TOW anti tank missiles and 150 choppers used for transportation and support duties 9 Retired 500MDs donated to Kenya for Kenyan led peacekeeping operations 10 500MD ASW Defender Maritime version of the 500MD Defender Equipped with a Bendix RDR 1300 search radar in a nose cone offset to the port side and a towed ASQ 81C V 2 magnetic anomaly detector MAD at the starboard fuselage Up to two Mk 44 or Mk 46 torpedoes are carried underneath the fuselage which can be replaced by smoke markers 11 500MD TOW Defender Anti tank version of the 500MD Defender armed with TOW anti tank missiles 500MD MMS TOW Defender Anti tank version fitted with a mast mounted sight armed with TOW anti tank missiles 500MD Quiet Advanced Scout Defender Fitted with noise suppression equipment 500MD Defender II Improved version 500MG Defender Military version of the 500E 520MG Defender Philippine Air Force built military version Modified 500MG Defender that carries 50 12 7 mm caliber machine guns and 7 tube rocket pods and operates as a light attack aircraft 12 520MK Black Tiger South Korean built military version built by Korean Air Aerospace Division 13 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior It is a military light scout attack helicopter developed from OH 6 Cayuse 14 15 It incorporating simple fixed forward sighting system FN Herstal weapons management system Rohde amp Schwarz M3AR tactical mission radio and Dillon Aero mission configurable armament system MCAS weapons plank 16 15 Performance Service ceiling 16 000 feet 4 900 m range 235 nautical miles 435 km cruising speed 135 nautical miles 250 km per hour 14 Weapons Two hardpoints for FN HMP400 gun pod with FN M3P 50 BMG 12 7 mm heavy machine gun 1100 rpm firing rate carries 400 rounds ammo effective firing range nearly 1 850 m maximum firing range 6500 m and or M260 rocket pod with 7 unguided Hydra 70 rockets effective firing range 8 km 15 17 18 Afghanistan Air Force is the largest operator of MD 530F Cayuse Warrior 19 On September 26 2023 the Nigerian Government approved the purchase of 12 MD 530F helicopters for the Nigerian Army which currently does not have a functional aviation unit MD 530M Military version MD 530MG Defender Military version MD 530G BII Improved military version MD530 Nightfox Night attack version MD530MG Paramilitary Defender Police or border patrol version MD540F Upgraded MD530F incorporating a 6 bladed fully articulated rotor blade system made of composite material a more rugged landing skid for heavier take off and landing weights a fully integrated digital glass cockpit with multi function color displays and a pilot Helmet Display and Tracking System HDTS which couples together a targeting FLIR and laser designator 20 MD530G Designed based on the MD530F airframe and is engineered with advanced technology to deliver enhanced combat capabilities 21 Operators editFor civilian operators seeMD 500 series Military operators edit nbsp An Italian Air Force NH 500E nbsp Argentina Argentine Air Force 22 nbsp Chile Chilean Army 22 nbsp Colombia Colombian Aerospace Force 22 nbsp El Salvador Air Force of El Salvador 22 nbsp Finland Finnish Army 22 nbsp Italy Italian Air Force 22 nbsp Japan See Hughes OH 6 nbsp Kenya Kenya Defence Forces 22 nbsp A MD500E of the Finnish Army nbsp South Korea Republic of Korea Air Force 22 Republic of Korea Army 22 nbsp Lebanon Lebanese Air Force 22 nbsp Malaysia Malaysian Army 23 nbsp Mexico Mexican Air Force 22 nbsp Panama Servicio Nacional Aeronaval 22 nbsp Philippines Philippine Air Force24 units of MD 520MG as Attack Helicopter 1 Unit of MD 500E as Trainer Transferred from Department of Public Works and Highways 22 nbsp Taiwan Republic of China Republic of China Naval Aviation Command 22 nbsp United States United States Army Aviation See A MH 6 nbsp A former Afghan MD 530F firing off its gun pods Former operators edit nbsp Afghanistan Afghan Air Force 24 25 26 27 nbsp Argentina Argentine Coast Guard 28 nbsp Croatia Croatian Air Force 29 nbsp Guinea Guinean Air Force 30 nbsp Israel Israeli Air Force 31 Specifications 500M edit nbsp Data from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1981 82 32 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 30 ft 9 5 in 9 385 m rotors running Height 8 ft 8 5 in 2 654 m to top of rotor hub 8 ft 10 75 in 2 71 m to top of tail fin dd dd dd Empty weight 1 512 lb 686 kg Max takeoff weight 2 550 lb 1 157 kg normal MTOW 3 000 lb 1 361 kg overload MTOW dd dd dd Powerplant 1 Allison Model 250 C20B turboshaft engine 420 shp 310 kW Main rotor diameter 26 ft 4 75 in 8 0455 m Performance Maximum speed 132 kn 152 mph 244 km h at 1 000 ft 300 m Cruise speed 117 kn 135 mph 217 km h at sea level Range 318 nmi 366 mi 589 km at 4 000 ft 1 200 m Service ceiling 4 390 ft 1 340 m Hover ceiling IGE 8 200 ft 2 500 m Hover ceiling OGE 5 300 ft 1 600 m Rate of climb 1 700 ft min 8 6 m s Armament four TOW anti tank missiles or two 7 62mm General Electric M134 Miniguns plus ammunition or four General Dynamics Stinger air to air missile or Mk 44 or Mk 46 lightweight torpedoes ASW Version or two seven shot rocket podsSee also editRelated development Boeing AH 6 Hughes OH 6 Cayuse MD Helicopters MD 500 MD Helicopters MH 6 Little Bird Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aerospatiale Gazelle AH 1 SA 341F SA 342M France MBB Bo 105P PAH West Germany References edit Little Bird demo for the Republic of Korea SUASNews com December 14 2012 PICTURES KAL ASD to test unmanned MD500 Flightglobal com 20 October 2015 Lynn Tilton Bests Boeing in Helicopter Arbitration permanent dead link Justhelicopters com 25 July 2013 Outgoing General US Army Must Continue To Fund Research and Development Defensenews com 14 January 2014 Frawley Gerard The International Directory of Military Aircraft page 97 Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd 2002 ISBN 1 875671 55 2 Official website Aeronautica Militare Giorgio nh 500e 72 stormo www giorgiociarini com Archived from the original on 2016 03 03 Retrieved 2014 12 12 The MD Helicopters MD 500 530 Retrieved on January 16 2008 a b OH 6A Cayuse AH 6J Little Bird and Defender 500 specs Retrieved on January 9 2008 https www military africa 2024 01 south korea donates md500 defenders helicopters to kenya for u n peacekeeping 500MD ASW Defender 15th Strike Wing GlobalSecurity org Retrieved June 19 2014 Korean Air Aerospace Division KAA Retrieved on January 9 2008 a b MD 530F CAYUSE WARRIOR a b c MD 530F CAYUSE WARRIOR PDF Archived from the original PDF on 2018 08 28 Retrieved 2021 07 11 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Helicopter Air Force Technoloyy Retrieved 11 July 2021 FN HMP400 Pod FN M3P Afghanistan s Air Force Receives Five More MD 530F Helicopters The Diplomat 18 September 2021 Retrieved 11 July 2021 MD Helicopters Announces New MD 540F Reuters com 3 April 2012 MD 530G Scout Attack Helicopter Army Technology a b c d e f g h i j k l m n World Air Forces 2023 Flight Global Flightglobal Insight 2022 Retrieved 12 January 2023 Janes Malaysia Receives MD 530G Light Attack Helos MDHI secures US 43 9M in army contracts Helicopters Magazine 14 June 2021 Retrieved 11 July 2021 AFGHAN AIR FORCE TO EXPAND FLEET OF MD 530F CAYUSE WARRIOR HELICOPTERS Afghanistan s Newest Attack Helicopter a Total Mess The Diplomat 18 September 2021 Retrieved 11 July 2021 World Air Forces 2018 Flightglobal Insight 2018 Retrieved 25 August 2018 Prefectura Naval Argentina H 6 369 Retrieved 26 February 2013 Croatia Air Force Aircraft Types aeroflight co uk Retrieved 26 February 2013 Cooper Tom Weinert Peter Hinz Fabian Lepko Mark 2011 African MiGs Volume 2 Madagascar to Zimbabwe Houston Harpia Publishing p 224 ISBN 978 0 9825539 8 5 Israel Air Force Aircraft Types aeroflight co uk Retrieved 26 February 2013 Taylor John W R ed 1981 Jane s All the World s Aircraft 1981 82 72nd ed London Jane s Publishing Co pp 380 383 ISBN 978 0710607294 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Rivas Santiago October 2015 Fighting d Drug War Air International Vol 89 no 4 pp 118 121 ISSN 0306 5634 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to MD 500 Defender MD Helicopters MD530G MD 500 Defender page on GlobalSecurity org IDF Defenders in action Archived 2016 10 18 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender amp oldid 1222171509, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
