The Afghan Air Force has taken delivery of the final five MD Helicopters MD530F rotorcraft.
The Afghan Air Force has taken delivery of the final five MD Helicopters MD530F rotorcraft.
The five rotorcraft are the last examples of a 30-example order the company received in September 2017. They are part of the $1.4 billion IDIQ (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity) package the company signed with the US government in September 2017 that covers up to 150 MD530 rotorcraft for partner nations.
Other recipients of MD530s under the IDIQ package include Kenya and Lebanon. MD Helicopters says 24 examples remain to be delivered under the deal.
Overall, says MD Helicopters, Kabul has received 60 MD530Fs. The final five units were flown aboard a Boeing 747 from Mesa, Arizona to Kandahar in October, where they were assembled and prepared for active service.
Previous MD530Fs delivered to Kabul have been equipped with .50-cal gun pods, 2.75-inch rockets, ballistic protection, tactical communications systems, and a fixed-forward sighting system.
