MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) was selected in a bid to supply six MD 530G Scout Attack Helicopters to Malaysia’s Ministry of Defense, the company said Feb. 1.
The MD 530G made its first flight in 2013. With a top speed over 120 knots, it features a capacity landing gear to support the 3,750 MGTOW (max gross takeoff weight), which allows an increased useful load for additional range, endurance, and weapons, MDHI said.
The scout attack helicopter is also configured to include advanced avionics, an integrated on-board stores management system, forward-looking infrared sensor, guided and unguided rockets, and inboard .50 caliber machine guns.
The Malaysia model MD 350Gs are planned to include a custom weapons package, advanced communications capabilities, and an Electro-Optical/Infra-red (EO/IT) system to detect, identify, and engage a range of threats.
MDHI will also provide long-term service, support, and operation of the MD 530G fleet. “MDHI will work with Bumiputra partners in all phases of the program, from defining requirements to a comprehensive CLS package that includes initial entry, transition, and combat pilot training, maintenance training for both the airframe and mission equipment, and the development of a spare parts program with dedicated and ongoing OEM support,” the company said.
The helicopters are expected to perform attack, ISR, and security missions in support of the Malaysian Army’s operations in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM), MDHI said.
“Perfectly suited for Malaysia’s operational environment, we are honored that the MD 530G–our next generation light scout attack helicopter–was selected by the Malaysian Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and the Chief Defence Force (CDF) to be the newest addition to the Malaysian Armed Forces,” Lynn Tilton, CEO for MD Helicopters, said in a statement.
“We are confident our record of early delivery will continue with this contract and will allow the Malaysian Army to achieve significant operational successes in early 2017,” Tilton added.
MDHI is expected to deliver the helicopters to Malaysia’s Army Aviation (Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat, PUTD) beginning in the fourth quarter of 2016, with the full fleet set to be delivered by the end of Q1 of 2017, the company said.