MD Helicopters releases video of gunnery training for Malaysian Army Aviation MD-530G pilots. Pilots were trained in two separate groups while ground crew also received technical training on the aircraft in two groups. The Malaysian Army Aviation have sent eight pilots and nine technicians to undergo such training from April 24 till August 13. The flight training took place on a range in western Texas that was leased by MD Helicopters, with the MD 530Gs carrying U.S. civil registration. The training is to increase pilot skill in weapons system operations, tactical flight and air combat training while crew training is for maintenance of aircraft, engines and weapons.
The US Government announced its commitment to provide six MD 530G light attack helicopters, associated equipment and training to support the Malaysian Armed Forces’ rotary-wing close-air-support missions in December 2017. The MD 530G is designed based on the MD 530F airframe and is engineered with advanced technology to deliver enhanced combat capabilities. A Heavy Machine Gun Pod (HMP-400) developed by FN Herstal is mounted in a 14in Nato standard bomb rack on the helicopter. It features a 12.7mm FN M3P machine gun with a rate of fire of around 1,100 rounds per minute. The helicopter is also equipped with a Rocket Machine Gun Pod (RMP), which is effective against both guided and unguided rockets The machine gun can store up to 250 cartridges.
Six MD Helicopter MD-530G light attack helicopters that will be used by the Malaysian Army Aviation (Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat PUTD) passed pre-delivery inspection (PDI) checks before entering service officially. The PDI process for the six MD Helicopters was to ensure that all technical aspects and specifications were fully met for its future operations to strengthen the army’s air mobility. Malaysia ordered the MD 530Gs in early 2016 under a contract estimated to be worth $76.4 million. Based on the procurement contract, all the helicopters are expected to be delivered to Malaysia at the end of this year.
MD Helicopters, Inc. (formerly McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems) is an American aerospace manufacturer. It produces light utility helicopters for commercial and military use. The company was a subsidiary of Hughes Aircraft until 1984, when McDonnell Douglas acquired it and renamed it McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems. It later became MD Helicopters in the late 1990s when McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing. The line included the MD 500 and variants as well as the family of derivative NOTAR aircraft that originated with Hughes Helicopters Inc. Boeing maintained the AH-64 line of helicopters and rights to the NOTAR system.
