MD 500 Defender
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| MD 500 Defender | |
|---|---|
| Type | Light multi-role helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters, Inc. |
| Maiden flight | 1976 |
| Developed from | MD Helicopters MD 500 |
The MD Helicopters MD 500 Defender is an American light multi-role military helicopter. Based on the MD Helicopters MD 500 light utility helicopter.
Contents |
[edit] Design and development
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, magentic anomaly detector and the capability to carry lightweight torpedoes.
The helicopter was popular with customers like Kenya who could buy a capable anti-armour helicopter for less than half the cost of a gunship such as the Bell Cobra or the AH-64 Apache. Israel used the Defender extensively during the conflicts of the late 1970s and 1980s against Syrian armored forces.
The Defender was later built as an improved version as the MD530, with increased engine power, handling, avionics, and a redesigned forward fuselage. Later developments included a mast mounted sight, also known as MMS (also found the OH-58 Kiowa Warrior)
[edit] Variants
- 500D Scout Defender
- Armed reconnasissance version
- 500M Defender
- Military export version of the 500 and 500C, built under licence by Kawasaki in Japan (as the OH-6J)[1] and Breda Nardi in Italy.
- 500M/ASW Defender
- Export version for the Spanish Navy.
- NH-500M Defender
- Italian-built version of the 500M Defender. Licensed by Breda Nardi before merge with Agusta.[2]
- 500MD Defender
- Military version of the 500D.
- 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 noise suppression equipment.
- 500MD Defender II
- Improved version.
- 500MG Defender
- Military version of the 500E.
- 520MK Black Tiger
- Korean-built military version. Said to be made by Korean Air Aerospace Division[3], Korean Air's aerospace division from 1976 to 1984 with 200 choppers made.[4] 50 were armed with TOW anti-tank missiles with 150 choppers used for transportation and support duties[4].
- 530MG Defender
- Military version of the 530F.
- MD530 Nightfox
- Nightattack version.
- MD530MG Paramilitary Defender
- Police or border patrol version.
[edit] Operators
- Chilean Army operates 17 x MD-530MGs.
- Colombian Air Force operates 12 x 500MDs.
- Iraqi Air Force operates 30 x 500MDs.
- Israeli Air Force operates 30 x 500MDs.
- Kenya Air Force operates 15 x 500MDs.
- Republic of Korea Army operates 207 x 500MD / 50 x 500MD TOW Defenders.
- South African Police Service operates 5 x 500MDs.
- Royal Moroccan Air Force operates 24 x 500MDs.
- Republic of China Navy operates 12 x 500MDs (ASW version).
[edit] Specifications (500MD)
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 sq 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 (4205 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, 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
[edit] References
- ^ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directiory of Military Aircraft, page 97. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2
- ^ The MD Helicopters MD-500/530. Retrieved on January 16, 2008.
- ^ Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAA) Retrieved on January 9, 2008.
- ^ a b OH-6A Cayuse, AH-6J Little Bird and Defender 500 specs. Retrieved on January 9, 2008.
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
[edit] External links
|
||||||||||||||
