MD Helicopter Inc., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $14,500,000 modification to contract to provide contractor logistics support for the Afghanistan Air Force fleet of armed MD 530F rotary wing aircraft. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona; Kabul, Afghanistan; and Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2021. Fiscal 2021 Pseudo Foreign Military Sales (Afghanistan) funds in the amount of $14,500,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.
The Afghan Air Force has deployed MD 530F helicopters in the Rotary Wing Flight Training Programme since 2011, which was conducted by the US Army Security Assistance Training Management Organization in Shindand. The company received a firm fixed price contract to deliver 12 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack Helicopters to the AAF in January 2016. Initial delivery of the contract includes the supply of 30 MD 530F helicopters to AAF. The first five 30 helicopters were delivered to AAF in September 2018, while the remaining deliveries will be made by September 2019.
MD 530F Cayuse Warrior is an armed variant of the OH-6 Cayuse light observation helicopter built by MD Helicopters. It is designed to enhance scout attack, armed escort and close air attack capabilities of the air forces. The multi-purpose armed helicopter can be deployed in tactical, reconnaissance and transport operations. It can also carry out airborne law enforcement, executive and personnel transport, air medical services, search-and-rescue (SAR), firefighting and other public safety missions.
The Afghan Air Force is currently the largest MD 530F Cayuse Warrior operator globally with 60 helicopters in service. The helicopters supplied to Afghanistan are powered by the Rolls-Royce 250-C30 650shp turbine engine. They feature an advanced, all-glass cockpit, DillonAero Fixed-Forward Sighting System, ballistically tolerant crashworthy main and auxiliary fuel system, DillonAero Mission Configurable Armament System (MCAS), FN Herstal HMP 400.50 calibre Machine Gun Pods, ballistic armour protection, and M260 7-shot rocket pods.
