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McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender

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Top speed
  
258 km/h

Range
  
370 km

Wingspan
  
8.03 m

Length
  
7.01 m

Weight
  
599 kg

Engine type
  
Allison Model 250

McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender

Manufacturers
  
MD Helicopters, Hughes Helicopters

Ehs 2014 mcdonnell douglas md 500e


The McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD 500 Defender is a light multi-role military helicopter based on the MD 500 light utility helicopter.

Contents

McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD 500

Mcdonnell douglas md 500 defender


Design and development

McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender 3d model Multipurpose helicopter McDonnell Douglas MD500 Defender

The original OH-6 Cayuse helicopter proved its worth during the Vietnam War in the light helicopter role. The designers at Hughes realized there was a market for a light multi-mission helicopter with an improved equipment fit than the OH-6 and Model 500M. The resulting design was the Model 500MD Defender which first flew in 1976. It was tailored for specific roles including unarmed observation and an armed scout helicopter equipped with TOW Anti-tank missiles. An anti-submarine version was developed with a search radar, magnetic anomaly detector and the capability to carry lightweight aerial torpedoes.

McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender McDonnell Douglas MD500 Helicopters Pinterest

The helicopter was popular with customers like Kenya who could buy a capable anti-armor helicopter for less than half the cost of a gunship such as the AH-1 Cobra or the AH-64 Apache. Israel used the Defender extensively during the conflicts of the late 1970s and 1980s against Syrian armored forces.

McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

The Defender was later built as an improved version as the MD530MG, with increased engine power, handling, avionics, and a redesigned forward fuselage. Later developments included a mast mounted sight (MMS).

McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender Radio Controlled RC Electric Model Helicopter Tips Brad Meyer

In December 2012, Boeing demonstrated their Unmanned Little Bird to the South Korean Army. The pilotless aircraft flew autonomously in a 25-minute demonstration for the purpose of showing unmanned capabilities technologies, such as enhanced ISR and resupply, in the system that could be integrated into Army MD 500 helicopters. In October 2015, Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAL-ASD) unveiled a mock-up of their unmanned MD 500, designated the Korean Air Unmanned System-Vertical Helicopter (KUS-VH), featuring blacked out windows, a large fuel tank where the rear seats would be that extends endurance to four hours, and an armament of two Hellfire missiles and a 2.75 in rocket pod; unlike Boeing's optionally manned and unarmed ULB, the KUS-VH is completely unmanned and armed as well as having an EO/IR sensor. The KUS-VH is envisioned to perform missions including ISR, attack, aerial delivery, coast guard, amphibious landing support, and emergency reinforcement to back up manned helicopter units. A KUS-VH unit would consist of two to four aircraft and sensor packages, a ground control system and ground support system, and it could operate alone or in conjunction with manned attack helicopters. A request for proposals for an unmanned scout helicopter is expected in 2016-2017, for which the company says making the up to 175 MD 500s unmanned would be a cheap way of reusing them after retirement from service over the next 10 years for safely performing dangerous attack missions.

MD Helicopters had submitted a version called the MD 540F in the U.S. Army's Armed Aerial Scout program. This caused Boeing to try and block MD Helicopters from participating, citing agreements the companies struck in 2005 to offer the Mission Enhanced Little Bird in the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program. As part of the venture, MD Helicopters sold intellectual property related to the aircraft's design. The two companies lost the bid and the program was ultimately cancelled. When MD Helicopters disclosed plans to offer the MD 540F in the AAS program in April 2012, Boeing claimed that they could not sell any "similarly configured" aircraft to any U.S. or foreign military organization. Boeing offered their AH-6 in the competition. MD Helicopters said Boeing did not object to previous sales to armed forces and governments in Japan, Jordan, and Italy, as well as to U.S. special operations, and local U.S. police forces. Restrictions on selling aircraft similar to the Little Bird, domestically or to foreign users, would have put the company out of business. In July 2013, a federal court ruled that MD Helicopters could not be blocked from offering their aircraft. The Army ended the AAS program in late 2013.

Variants

500D Scout Defender
Armed reconnaissance version
500M Defender
Military export version of the 500 and 500C, built under license by Kawasaki in Japan (as the OH-6J) and Breda Nardi in Italy.
500M/ASW Defender
Export version for the Spanish Navy.
NH-500E built under license by Breda Nardi (Agusta) since 1990
NH-500M Defender
Italian-built version of the 500M Defender. Licensed by Breda Nardi before merge with Agusta.
500MD Defender
Military version of the 500D. Korean Air's aerospace division from 1976 to 1984 with 200 choppers made. 50 were armed with TOW anti-tank missiles and 150 choppers used for transportation and support duties.
500MD/ASW Defender
Maritime version of the 500MD Defender.
500MD/TOW Defender
Anti-tank version of the 500MD Defender, armed with TOW anti-tank missiles.
500MD/MMS-TOW Defender
Anti-tank version, fitted with a mast-mounted sight, armed with TOW anti-tank missiles.
500MD Quiet Advanced Scout Defender
Fitted with noise suppression equipment.
500MD Defender II
Improved version.
500MG Defender
Military version of the 500E.
520MG Defender
Philippine military version. Special Forces version. Modified 500MG Defender that carry .50 caliber machine guns and 7-tube rocket pods and operates as a light attack aircraft.
520MK Black Tiger
South Korean-built military version, built by Korean Air Aerospace Division
530MG Defender
Military version of the 530F.
MD530 Nightfox
Night attack version.
MD530MG Paramilitary Defender
Police or border patrol version.
MD540F

The enhanced MD530F features a six-bladed, fully articulated rotor system constructed from composite materials, a sturdier landing skid designed to accommodate increased takeoff and landing weights, and a comprehensive digital glass cockpit equipped with multi-function color displays. Additionally, it includes a pilot Helmet Display and Tracking System (HDTS) that integrates a targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) and laser designator.

Operators

For civilian operators see MD 500 series

Military operators

 Afghanistan
  • Afghan Air Force - 27 MD530
  •  Argentina
  • Argentine Air Force - 12 MD500
  •  Chile
  • Chilean Army - 9 MD530
  •  Colombia
  • Colombian Air Force 6
  •  El Salvador
  • Air Force of El Salvador - 8 MD500 .
  •  Finland
  • Finnish Army - 2 MD500
  •  Italy
  • Italian Air Force - 44 MD500
  •  Japan

    See Hughes OH-6

     Kenya
  • Kenyan Army - MD500
  •  South Korea
  • Republic of Korea Air Force - 25 MD500
  • Republic of Korea Army - 252
  •  Malaysia
  • Malaysian Army (6 MD-530G on order)
  •  Mexico
  • Mexican Air Force - 15 MD530
  •  Panama
  • Servicio Nacional Aeronaval - 1 MD500
  •  Philippines
  • Philippine Air Force - 25 MD520
  •  Republic of China (Taiwan)
  • Republic of China Navy - 8
  •  United States
  • United States Army (See A/MH-6)
  • Former operators

     Argentina
  • Argentine Coast Guard
  •  Croatia
  • Croatian Air Force
  •  Iraq
  • Iraqi Air Force - 103
  •  Israel
  • Israeli Air Force
  • Specifications (500MD)

    Data from

    General characteristics

  • Crew: 1-2
  • Capacity: 4-5 passengers
  • Length: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 26 ft 4 in (8.03 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
  • Disc area: 544.63 ft² (50.60 m²)
  • Empty weight: 1,320 lbs (599 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 3,000 lbs (1361 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × One Allison 250-C20B turboshaft, 420 hp (313 kW)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 160 mph (257 km/h)
  • Range: 230 miles (370 km)
  • Service ceiling: 13,800 ft (4,205 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,650 ft/min (503 m/min (8.4 m/s))
  • Armament

  • four TOW anti-tank missiles, or
  • two 7.62mm General Electric M134 Miniguns plus ammunition, or
  • four General Dynamics Stinger air-to-air missile, or
  • Mk 44 or Mk 46 lightweight torpedoes (ASW Version), or
  • two seven-shot rocket pods
  • References

    McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender Wikipedia