The Malaysian Army takes formal delivery in-country of its MD-530G light scout/attack helicopters to boost its readiness and capability. They arrived in Port Klang, near here, on Feb 21 from the Oakland Harbour, United States. Three of the light scout/attack helicopters will be stationed in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and the rest in Kluang, Johor. All the helicopters would be equipped with 7.62 millimetres (mm) Gatling gun, 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and 70 mm rockets. The MD530G helicopters, supplied by Syarikat Halaman Optima Sdn Bhd through Syarikat Destini Prima Sdn Bhd, were made by MD Helicopter Inc (MDHI) based in the United States.
Before being allowed to operate, the helicopters must undergo several inspections such as by the Directorate General Technical Airworthiness and final inspection by the Army through the Final Acceptance Test (FAT) team. Final Inspection Certificate, would be issued and signed by the representatives of the company together with the FAT team after the team confirmed that the six helicopters had passed the final inspection. This indicates that the six helicopters are officially owned by the Army and expected to become operational in October. The procurement contract also included training programmes for eight pilots and nine technicians of the Malaysian Army.
The 530G is the latest in a long line of light attack helicopter configurations based on the Model 500/530 airframe. The 530G for Malaysia continues to raise the bar on performance with the integration of the Wescam L3 MX10D sensor and the Pathfinder Ares Weapons Management System from Tek Fusion. These integrated systems are used to support the Dillion M134 Mini Gun, FN Herstal Heavy Machine Gun and Rocket Machine Gun pods, and 2.75-inch Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets (guided and unguided). The aircraft provides overwhelming close-in support night or day, as well as outstanding reconnaissance capability.
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.
