The basic MD-530 is already in the DB for many entries including #5407 - MH-6M Little Bird [MD-530F] (Lebanon - 2021) so it could be copied and then remove the sensors and more advanced load outs.
The Afghan version was austere, lacking effective sensors and defensive aides.
The austere MD-530F version has been seen as the helicopter attack platform of choice for US foreign military sales to countries unable to afford to operate the Apache.
Weapons wise it appears the Afghans operated either with HMP gun pods or 14 Hydra rockets NOT both.
Out of service date 2021 is speculative given the unknown quantity of whether Taliban can repair and maintain those air frames not rendered totally inoperable.
Manufacturer data:
Max Gross Weight: Int. 3,300 lb / 1,496 kg
Useful Load 2,159 lb / 979 kg
Service Ceiling 16,000 ft / 4,876 m
Max Cruise Speed 110 kt / 203 kph
HOGE 14,400 ft / 4,389 m
HIGE 16,000 ft / 4,877 m
Range 235 nm / 435 km
tbrandon517
commented
2 years ago
DB Selector
DB3K
Hypothetical
No
Name
MD-530F Cayuse Warrior
Country
Afghanistan
Service
Air Force
In Commission
April 2015 -(out of service 2021?)
Length (m)
7.3
Wingspan (m)
1.9
Height (m)
3
Empty Weight (kg)
896
Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) (kg)
2367
Payload Weight (kg)
454
Crew
2
Propulsion
250-C30/R3 #1
Rate of Climb (ft/min)
5920 ft/min, 30.1 m/sec
Service Ceiling (ft)
15000
Military/Afterburner Speed (kt)
150
Cruise Speed (kt)
135
Supercruise
No
Ferry Range (nm)
230
Endurance (min)
140
Takeoff / Landing Distance (m)
0
Fuel Capacity (kg)
205.0
Sensors
1x Mk1 Eyeball 1x Generic Night Vision Goggles Considerbaly less well equipped than similar exported MD-530's.
Mounts
NIL
Loadout Options
HMP 400 Gun Pods (COPY #29911) (Strike, Land/Naval) 10x 12.7mm HMP 400 Gun Pod Burst [40 rnds]
HYDRA 70mm Rockets (Strike, Land/Naval) 14x HYDRA 70mm Rocket
Comms/Datalinks
UHF/VHF Radio [Unsecure]
Aircraft Codes
Bombsight - Basic
Comments
The basic MD-530 is already in the DB for many entries including #5407 - MH-6M Little Bird [MD-530F] (Lebanon - 2021) so it could be copied and then remove the sensors and more advanced load outs. The Afghan version was austere, lacking effective sensors and defensive aides. The austere MD-530F version has been seen as the helicopter attack platform of choice for US foreign military sales to countries unable to afford to operate the Apache. Weapons wise it appears the Afghans operated either with HMP gun pods or 14 Hydra rockets NOT both.
Out of service date 2021 is speculative given the unknown quantity of whether Taliban can repair and maintain those air frames not rendered totally inoperable. Manufacturer data: Max Gross Weight: Int. 3,300 lb / 1,496 kg Useful Load 2,159 lb / 979 kg Service Ceiling 16,000 ft / 4,876 m Max Cruise Speed 110 kt / 203 kph HOGE 14,400 ft / 4,389 m HIGE 16,000 ft / 4,877 m Range 235 nm / 435 km
Sources
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/md-530f-cayuse-warrior-helicopter/ https://youtu.be/KSrRF65o-MU https://fnamerica.com/products/fn-airborne-pod-systems/fn-hmp400-pod/ https://youtu.be/py6H_5EyYOo https://youtu.be/uUvtMSj3908 Shows Hydra 2 x 7 pods. And 1 x HMP400 1 X Hydra https://www.mdhelicopters.com/afghan-air-force-to-expand-fleet-of-md-530f-cayuse-warrior-helicopters.html Seems only supporting HMP-400 AND Hydra. https://www.maceaviation.com/case-studies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_MD_500_Defender
https://www.reddit.com/r/MilitaryPorn/comments/36qfnm/md_530f_helicopters_of_the_afghan_air_force_armed/