The AAF in Kandahar Received the First 5 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Helicopters

The AAF in Kandahar Received the First 5 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Helicopters

MESA, Arizona, the USA (BulgarianMilitary.com), 13 September 2018, Editor: Bm Team, Photo credit: MD Helicopters/Five MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters loaded on a C-17 aircraft.

The Afghan Air Force (AAF) in Kandahar, Afghanistan received the first 5 MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters from MD Helicopters (MDHI) and they are expected enter into service with the Afghan Air Force’s Aviation Unit this year. That was announced by the company on 10 September 2018, learned BulgarianMilitary.com

The rest 25 new MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters, under the same agreement, will be delivered to the AAF till September 2019.

Read more: No Bulgarian Service Members Injured in the Attack on the Kandahar Base

The $1.4 billion indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for the helicopters was signed in September 2017. Its duration is five years.

Read more: The Bulgarian Special Forces Will Participate in a NATO Mission in Afghanistan

The MD Helicopters chief executive officer Lynn Tilton’s comment on the delivery was, “It is an honour to deliver these first five of 30 new Cayuse Warrior aircraft to the Afghan Air Force in support of their vigilant efforts to protect their country and their citizens in the global fight against terror.”

Read more: The 35th Bulgarian Contingent Returned from Its Mission in Afghanistan

These aircraft are the first of a new generation of MD 530F Cayuse Warriors, which feature the MDHI’s newly certified glass cockpit that includes Howell Instruments’ electronic engine instruments and crew alert system; Garmin’s G500 (H) TXi electronic flight instruments with touchscreen GDU 700P PFD/MFD and GTN 650 touchscreen NAV/COM/GPS; and L-3 ESI 500 electronic standby instrument.

The mission equipment enhancements of the MD 530F Cayuse Warrior involve a ballistically tolerant crashworthy fuel system, including both the main fuel tank and a 38gal auxiliary fuel tank.

The MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopter is 9.8 m long. It is an armed version of the OH-6 Cayuse light observation aircraft of MD Helicopters and is developed for the purposes of improving the scout attack, armed escort, and close air attack capabilities of the Afghan Air Force.

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