SHAH ALAM: Last August, Malaysian Defence wrote about the tender to provide maintenance, repairs, and spares for the Army’s Air Wing MD530G light scout attack helicopters. The tender went nowhere as it was cancelled after the deadline for submissions.
This despite the industry preparing to bid for the maintenance contract – including providing the technical support for the weapon management system of the six LSAH tail number M83-01 to M83-06.
Why I am writing about this today then? The Procurement Division of the Defence Ministry has issued a tender for the maintenance, repairs and spares for MD530G as well as technical support for the helicopter’s weapon management system. It is the replacement for the cancelled tender.
Like the cancelled tender, the latest one is valid for twenty-two days, published today and closing on May 29. And like the previous one, the public specifications are limited to this:
SOC SENGGARAAN DAN PEMBAIKAN,
PEMBEKALAN ALAT GANTI DAN
PERKHIDMATAN BANTUAN TAKTIKAL
SISTEM PERSENJATAAN PESAWAT
MD530G UNTUK PASUKAN TENTERA
DARAT
At LIMA later this month, I may get more details on whether this is the MRO contract for the six LSAH or just a short term one. It must be said that it has been three years since the helicopters were delivered to the Army so it is likely the free maintenance period is over. It must be noted that various tenders to supply parts and spares have been issued within the last few years.
As you are aware the helicopters arrived here in February 2022, some seven years after the contract was originally signed back in 2015. The official handover was done in June, the same year.
— Malaysian Defence
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The minigun does not have a pod. It is hung directly to the pylon.
https://www.malaysiandefence.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/MD-530G-6278.jpg
The 0.50cal gunpod is FN RMP/HMP400
The rocket pod is FZ (thales) FZ220 7shot rocket launcher
The WMS is a TekFusion ARES, which is a primary differentiator between the MD530G and the MD530F
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GWIzC6BbAAAC__y.jpg
The WMS is supposed to work with THALES SCORPION HMD for targeting, which is why the MD530G does not have an analog weapons sight like a normal MD530F gunships. Curiously the MD530G was not bought with the THALES Scorpion HMD which means the WMS cannot be used to its fullest potential. I believe the FA-50 will also be using the THALES Scorpion HMD (The Scorpion HMD will be a feature of the FA-50PL).
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GXcg3fYbwAULLX0.jpg
Recently the MD530G has been used IMO for missions that are ideal for the platform, which is Special Forces support. That is a better fit for these helicopters, instead of just being a flying rocket launcher. What PUTD could do is to make 883 Rgt a commando support unit (like the US ARMY Special Operations Aviation Regiment SOAR), with the MD530G operating similar missions to AH-6 Little Birds (armed overwatch) while getting 6 more MD530F (secondhand would do, or ex afghan units stuck back in USA) to be used similar to MH-6 Little Birds (special forces transport), equipped with proper external seats and ropes.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GkD2CuAawAAxnm8.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GkD2VZKaAAIZIOL.jpg
You can probably get used 6x MD530F + modifications to MH-6 spec for USD10-15 million, an amount that is probably smaller than the MRO cost.