SHAH ALAM: Close to delivery MD530G. It appears that the MD Helicopter MD530G light scout attack helicopters is close to be delivered. I am basing this on two Twitter posts from a Vertical Mag journalist who was given an opportunity to fly on the helicopters in the last couple of days. He also took videos of the flight.
Dan Parsons wrote on Twitter July 27.
His second posting.
Apart for these two postings, a number of pictures of the MD530Gs undergoing test flights and certification are also floating around, likely taken by soldiers and airmen sent to Mesa, Arizona where MD Helicopters are located.
The cockpit of the MD530G displayed at the HAI Heli-Expo. Similar avionics are probably fitted to the Malaysian Army ones. MD Helicopters.
As previously reported here, Defence Minister DS Ismail Sabri said November last year, that the six helicopters are expected to be delivered in June, this year. It is likely that the helicopters will be delivered next month though the exact date is beyond me. Perhaps in time to take part in the Merdeka flypast then?
The MD530G fitted with the FN Herstal rocket machine gun pod and a Gatling. This is a likely weapon configuration for the LSH.
If you want to read more on the MD530G saga go here. There are also a ton of stories in the Malaysian Defence archives since 2016.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (18)
Welcome home. More than sufficient for the Sulu threat, anti terrorist n piracy ops. Anything is better than nothing n if based around Lahat Datu would strengthen the security of the place immensely
How effective it it will be depends on operational circumstances and having other assets to work alongside it. It’s strength it’s it’s ability to fly very low (providing a small window to be shot at); as well as at night.
It is light scout helicopter which in addition to being used for the scout/recce role for army units; can also be used as a fast reaction asset and to support SF units. What it can’t do is to be misused as a gunship which it’s not. Hopefully the unit will spend.a lot of time training and refining tactics for night ops.
As was mentioned previously the general will need to go and officiate the acceptance of these units. No doubt would be a nice "working holiday" visiting Arizona particularly Monument Valley & Grand Canyon or the various casinos, but at this time when netizens are chaffing at ministers on working visit overseas while they are stuck at home, I hope our Armed Forces will not follow such misstep like their politician counterparts.
How about all the accusations made by PH regarding the acquisition of these MD530G..
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No idea really. But since the contract was allowed to continue during PH administration I am guessing that's all water under the bridge now
I guess so Encik Marhalim.
Slander and defamation brings more harm than any good.
Doesn’t change the fact that instead of dealing with the OEM direct we went via a local agent which sprouted out nowhere. This company later faced issues and had to be replaced by another company - both companies being paid but providing no added value to the end user or taxpayer.
A telling example of how flawed our procurement system is.
@ZekMR
the helicopters arriving late doesn't absolve the previous administration of wrongdoing.
@MSP
So what is the wrongdoing,
or any pending case in court.
Zek - “Slander and defamation brings more harm than any good.”
Depends. If it’s politically expedient and the environment is conducive; “slander and defamation” will have the desired effect. Politics after all is a vicious and dirty game.
On the actual contract;
- The question is how did the first company get awarded the contract and on what basis? Bear in mind it had no previous experience and hardly any assets to speak of.
- What actual process did the whole exercise go before it was approved and who pushed it?
- What was the nature of complains made about the purchase and on what grounds was it later decided to drop it?
- We can go further and ask who issued the actual requirement for the Little Birds and who wrote the specs? The army BTW did not have a actual requirement for a platform of the weight and size category of the Little Birds.
Are the helicopters definitely going to be based in Sabah?
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The Army chief has said that they will be be based in Kuantan, the Army air wing got a new hangar at the air base there. It was supposed to be used by the Nuris but then they got grounded. Actually it will be good for them to be in Kuantan rather than Sabah