MD Helicopters (MDHI) has announced a strategic teaming agreement with Elbit Systems to fit the Israeli company’s Integrated Weapons System (IWS) into the next-generation MD 530G Block II scout/attack helicopter. IWS is already in use in a number of helicopter types, and the companies expect to conduct live-fire and quality assurance tests on the MD 530G during 2020.
The IWS has four main elements: a helmet display tracking system (HDTS) that intuitively provides pilot guidance for both daytime and nighttime operations; and both weapons and mission management systems (WMS, MMS). The digital WMS supports a range of weaponry and integrates weapons management functions into the cyclic and collective control handles.
A digital mapping application (DMAP) is at the heart of the mission system, providing a moving-map on a touchscreen display. It can show aircraft positions, known threat locations, and the distribution of friendly forces. The helicopter’s electro-optic/infrared sensors are integrated directly into the MMS, providing the system with “detect and store” capability, through which targets can be located and their positions stored in the system for subsequent attack. As well as permitting the helicopter to deliver guided munitions from stand-off distances, the system also generates continuously computed impact point information in the HDTS for unguided weapons.
“Design and disruption are the cornerstone of all product development efforts,” said Lynn Tilton, CEO of MD Helicopters.“This partnership with Elbit Systems will allow us to rapidly expand the capabilities of the MD 530G, resulting in a next-generation, advanced light scout attack helicopter solution that will set a new standard in this highly competitive class.”
The announcement came shortly after MD Helicopters received a fourth delivery order from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (on behalf of the Multi-national Aviation Special Project Office) for more MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters destined for the Afghan Air Force. The latest firm fixed-price award covers “up to 12” armed MD 530Fs.
The delivery order is part of a five-year, $1.4 billion IDIQ contract that provides for up to 150 MD 530Fs and MD 530Gs for U.S. and partner nation forces. To date, MDHI has 54 under contract. The first delivery order was received in September 2017 for 30 MD 530Fs, also for Afghanistan. On October 27 MDHI completed delivery of this order when the final batch of five was flown in a Boeing 747 freighter from MD's Mesa, Arizona factory to Kandahar. They were reassembled and flown again within 10 days of arriving in Afghanistan.
With this delivery, the Afghan Air Force brought its MD 530F procurement to 60. The helicopters are fitted with an advanced glass cockpit with ballistic protection and DillonAero sighting and mission-configurable armament systems. Weapon options include the HMP400 0.5-inch machine gun pod from FN Herstal and M260 seven-round rocket pods.
MD Helicopters (MDHI) has announced a strategic teaming agreement with Elbit Systems to fit the Israeli company’s Integrated Weapons System (IWS) into the next-generation MD 530G Block II scout/attack helicopter. IWS is already in use in a number of helicopter types, and the companies expect to conduct live-fire and quality assurance tests on the MD 530G during 2020.
The announcement came shortly after MD Helicopters received a fourth delivery order from the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama (on behalf of the Multi-national Aviation Special Project Office) for more MD 530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters destined for the Afghan Air Force. The latest firm fixed-price award covers “up to 12” armed MD 530Fs.
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The delivery order is part of a five-year, $1.4 billion IDIQ contract that provides for up to 150 MD 530Fs and MD 530Gs for U.S. and partner nation forces. To date, MDHI has 54 under contract. The first delivery order was received in September 2017 for 30 MD 530Fs, also for Afghanistan. On October 27 MDHI completed delivery of this order when the final batch of five was flown in a Boeing 747 freighter from MD's Mesa, Arizona factory to Kandahar. They were reassembled and flown again within 10 days of arriving in Afghanistan.
With this delivery, the Afghan Air Force brought its MD 530F procurement to 60. The helicopters are fitted with an advanced glass cockpit with ballistic protection and DillonAero sighting and mission-configurable armament systems. Weapon options include the HMP400 0.5-inch machine gun pod from FN Herstal and M260 seven-round rocket pods.
The MD 530G's new-design IWS has four main elements: a helmet display tracking system (HDTS) that intuitively provides pilot guidance for both daytime and nighttime operations; and both weapons and mission management systems (WMS, MMS). The digital WMS supports a range of weaponry and integrates weapons management functions into the cyclic and collective control handles.
A digital mapping application (DMAP) is at the heart of the mission system, providing a moving-map on a touchscreen display. It can show aircraft positions, known threat locations, and the distribution of friendly forces. The helicopter’s electro-optic/infrared sensors are integrated directly into the MMS, providing the system with “detect and store” capability, through which targets can be located and their positions stored in the system for subsequent attack. As well as permitting the helicopter to deliver guided munitions from stand-off distances, the system also generates continuously computed impact point information in the HDTS for unguided weapons.
“Design and disruption are the cornerstone of all product development efforts,” said Lynn Tilton, CEO of MD Helicopters.“This partnership with Elbit Systems will allow us to rapidly expand the capabilities of the MD 530G, resulting in a next-generation, advanced light scout attack helicopter solution that will set a new standard in this highly competitive class.”