McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender

MD 500 Defender
An NH-500E2 license built by Breda Nardi NH for the Italian Air Force
Role	Light multi-role helicopter
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems
First flight	1976
Primary users	Republic of Korea Army Iraqi Air Force Israeli Air Force Philippine Air Force
Number built	471~
Developed from	MD Helicopters MD 500

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

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, magnetic anomaly detector and the capability to carry lightweight aerial 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 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.

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).

Variants

500D Scout Defender

Armed reconnaissance 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 with noise suppression equipment.

500MD Defender II

Improved version.

500MG Defender

Military version of the 500E.

520MG Defender

Philippine military version.

520MK Black Tiger

South Korean-built military version, built 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 and 150 choppers used for transportation and support duties^[4].

530MG Defender

Military version of the 530F.

MD530 Nightfox

Night attack version.

MD530MG Paramilitary Defender

Police or border patrol version.

Operators

 Bolivia

• Bolivian Air Force

 Chile

• Chilean Army operates 17 x MD-530MGs.

 Colombia

• Colombian Air Force operates 12 x 500MDs.

 Iraq

• Iraqi Air Force operated 60 x 500MDs (1983–2003)

 Israel

• Israeli Air Force operated 30 x 500MDs.

 Kenya

• Kenya Air Force operates 15 x 500MDs.

 South Korea

• Republic of Korea Army operates 207 x 500MD / 50 x 500MD TOW Defenders.

 Mexico

• Mexican Air Force Operates 22 MD 530F
• Mexican Naval Aviation Operates 6 MD 500

 Morocco

• Royal Moroccan Air Force operates 24 x 500MDs.

 Philippines

• Philippine Air Force the 18th "Falcons" and 20th "Firebirds" Attack Squadrons operates 20+ x 520MG

 Republic of China (Taiwan)

• Republic of China Navy, 12 500MD/ASW were ordered for anti-submarine warfare. 3 were lost in crashes. One additional unarmed unit was ordered as a trainer.^[5]

 Spain

• Spanish Navy operated some 500MD ASW, later used by Spanish Navy Marines for recon.

 South Africa

• South African Police Service operates 5 x 500MDs.

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 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, 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

See also

Related development

• OH-6 Cayuse
• MH-6 Little Bird
• MD Helicopters MD 500
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Aérospatiale Gazelle AH.1/SA 341F/SA 342M
• MBB Bo 105P PAH
  

References

1. ^ Frawley, Gerard: The International Directory of Military Aircraft, page 97. Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2
2. ^ The MD Helicopters MD-500/530. Retrieved on January 16, 2008.
3. ^ Korean Air Aerospace Division (KAA) Retrieved on January 9, 2008.
4. ^ ^{a b} OH-6A Cayuse, AH-6J Little Bird and Defender 500 specs. Retrieved on January 9, 2008.
5. ^ "Hughes 500MD/ASW Defender". Wei-Bin Chang. http://www.taiwanairpower.org/navy/500md.html. Retrieved January 12, 2009. 

External links

• MD 500 Defender page on GlobalSecurity.org
• IDF Defenders in action