Afghan Airman pose in front of the newest aircraft to enter the Afghan air force inventory. This is one of six aircraft that arrived in Kabul March 17. These six aircraft are the first up armored MD-530s to arrive in Afghanistan. They will provide additional close air attack capabilities for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. U.S. Air Force/Senior Master Sgt. J. LaVoie Photo
MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) has announced the arrival of the first six armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack Helicopters to the Afghan Air Force in Kabul, Afghanistan. Delivered within six months from the October 2014 award, MDHI has solidified its position as a world leader in near-term delivery of light single-engine gunships, custom-configured, to meet the emergent and ongoing mission requirements of U.S. and Allied forces.
“MD 500 Series helicopters have been a staple in U.S. and foreign military fleets for decades,” says Lynn Tilton, owner and chief executive for MD Helicopters. “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 with full AWR. 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.”
In response to the drawdown of coalition forces in the region, MD Helicopters developed a purposebuilt close attack helicopter capability that is intended to not only meet, but exceed the capability requirement identified by ISAF-A (the International Security Assistance Force-Afghanistan) for light scout attack helicopters.
These MD 530F Cayuse Warrior gunships increase the fire capability of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces by nearly six-times for Fighting Season 2015. An additional six MD 530F Scout Attack helicopters will be active in Afghanistan in Summer 2015. Under the current contract, the Afghan Air Force fleet will include 17 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior gunships by early next year.
