GoPro Footage from the MiG-29 SMT:
In March 2011, MD Helicopters, Inc. in Mesa, AZ won a competition for the Afghan Air Force that could reach as many as 54 helicopters over the life of the 4 year contract, giving it an implicit value of up to $180 million. Discussions with MD Helicopters confirmed that these are MD 530Fs, designed for high altitude and/or hot weather operations, where thinner air costs helicopters some of their lift.
The MD 530F uses Rolls Royce’s 650 shp 250-C30 engine, instead of the 500E’s 450-shp 250-C20R. That drives a 5-bladed set of main-rotor blades that have been extended 6 inches, along with lengthened tail rotors on a correspondingly longer tail boom. In a typical working configuration, at a design gross weight of 3,100 pounds/ 1,406 kg and a useful load of over 1,509 pounds/ 684 kg, it can hover out-of-ground effect at 11,600 feet/ 3,536m (ISA + 20°C). An optional cargo hook is rated for 2,000 pounds/ 907 kg, and the helicopter also has a flat aft cargo compartment floor for internal loads. These may be training helicopters, but they can be repurposed for light utility tasks. MD Helicopter designs are not unknown in the military market.
Hughes’ OH-6 Cayuse/”Loach” was legendary as a light utility helicopter and gunship. OH-6s still serve with some militaries, their AH-6J/M “Little Bird” descendant is still used as a light gunship by US Special Forces’ 160th SOAR, and the MD500/530 Defender series of light attack helicopters is still in operation around the world in Israel, South Korea, and elsewhere.
The purchase and breakup of Hughes Helicopter into Boeing (AH-64 Apache, AH-6 Little Bird) and MD (civilian helicopters) badly hurt this helicopter family’s global momentum and presence, as Boeing chose to focus on the AH-64 Apache as its military offering. After its 2005 purchase and recapitalization by Patriarch Partners, MD tried to re-enter the light military segment, but losses in the US Army’s ARH armed reconnaissance and LUH light utility competitions left them still looking for a new military foothold.
Military MD-530FWhile Mexico’s Navy uses the innovative MD Explorer, whose quieter NOTAR rotorless tail design sharply lowers the advance warning given to its targets, other military export orders have been slim. The Afghan order could reverse that trend, and the fleet will now be used well beyond the primary trainer role, re-establishing MD Helicopters as a global competitor in the light utility space.
MD-530GMD Helicopters has a July 2010 Memorandum of Understanding with Boeing for the AH-6i Light Attack Helicopter [PDF], which has been selected by Jordan and bought by Saudi Arabia. At the same time, the firm is developing their own MD-530G armed scout variant, and the Afghans have given them a contract to apply the upgrade to their fleet.
MD-530G modifications begin with upgraded landing skids that can handle 3,750 pounds maximum weight. A Rhode & Schwarz M3AR tactical radio, Robertson fuel system, and Kinetic Defense ballistic armor panels follow. Mission equipment includes L-3 Wescam’s MX-10 day/night surveillance & targeting turret, and MACE Aviation’s Extended Range Weapons Wing (ER2W) with up to 4 weapon stations, linked to a MOOG Storage Management System (SMS) and other required electronics. Initial weapon options will involve Dillon Aero’s multi-barrel M134D-H 7.62mm Minigun on the inside 2 hardpoints. Possibilities for the wingtip hardpoints include FN Herstal’s HMP-400 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun Pod (400 rounds), FN’s RMP 12.7mm Rocket Machine Gun Pod (250 rounds + 3 rockets), or 7-shot 70mm rocket pods. Raytheon’s laser-guided 70mm TALON rockets can be carried on FN’s RMP, or in Arnold Defense’s M260 pod.
MD’s main global competitors are armed variants of the Bell 407, variants of Eurocopter’s EC145 and EC635 – and for advanced militaries, armed VT-UAVs like Northrop Grumman’s MQ-8 Fire Scout.
Contracts & Key Events Afghan MD-530FsAugust 29/16: The Afghan Air Force has received its final batch of four MD-530 Cayuse Warrior helicopters. Unlike the previous delivery of five, the latest units are equipped with rocket and .50 caliber firing capabilities. This brings to 27 the number of Cayuse warriors now operated by the AAF, who often engage in providing aerial escort to convoys, providing over-watch to ANDSF operations and responding to “troops in contact” situations.
January 14/16: MD Helicopters are to manufacture and deliver twelve more MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Scout Attack helicopters to the Afghan Air Force. The addition will add to the twelve already in use by the air force. The previous 2015 order saw the aircraft delivered and operational within nine months, and have already seen successful operational duty. Five training variants are also in use and have been upgraded to the Cayuse configuration. The order adds to the gradual increase in participation by the Afghan Armed Forces in running and conducting their own security operations under the eye of the US.
September 28/15: Afghan pilots flying the country’s recently-operational MD-530 helicopters have expressed criticism of the Cayuse Warrior aircraft, citing a lack of range and jamming of the twin .50 cal machine guns installed through a contract last October. The mountains bordering the helicopters’ Kabul operating base are posing a challenge for the small helicopters, with the thin air reducing lift, limiting effective range and placing Taliban operating areas out of reach.
August 13/15: Afghanistan’s armed MD-530 helicopters have been used in combat for the first time, reports indicated on Wednesday. The Afghan Security Forces announced in July that the helicopters would be equipped with rocket pods to complement .50 cal machine guns. MD Helicopters was awarded a contract in March 2011 for the first six helicopters, with an additional order for a further twelve announced in September 2014.
Oct 8/14: Investigation. The Associated Press reports that the US Dept. of Justice Department is looking into allegations that a former Army Colonel gave MD Helicopters inside information to help them win key foreign contracts that restored their offerings to the global military market. Meanwhile, the contracts remain valid.
“(Retired Col. Bert) Vergez provided [main MD investor Lynn] Tilton with details about upcoming contracts to give her company an advantage over the competition, according to internal company documents obtained by the AP and interviews with people knowledgeable of the investigation but not authorized to discuss the matter…. [his] hiring by Tilton so quickly after hanging up his uniform may have violated rules requiring that federal officials wait a year or more before receiving compensation from a company they dealt with while working for the government…. Vergez, who is no longer employed by MD Helicopters or Patriarch Partners, did not return emails and telephone calls seeking comment.”
Former MD Helicopters employees Philip Marsteller and Robert Swisher have also filed a civil suit against Vergez, Tilton and MD Helicopters / Patriarch Partners under the Federal False Claims Act, a whistleblowing law whose “qui tam” provisions would allow them to receive 10-30% of any judgement rendered. Their claim says that they warned the company that the hiring would be illegal, and notes their concern over the “level of Col. Vergez’ subservience to Tilton and his continuing involvement in MD’s Army contracts.” Sources: US Dept. of Justice, “The False Claims Act: A Primer” [PDF] | AP Big Story, “Company wins new contracts despite federal probe”.
Oct 1/14: Arm 17. MD Helicopters, Inc. in Mesa, AZ receives a maximum $44.2 million firm-fixed-price, unfinalized contract for the Afghan Air Force, to arm 17 of their MD-530F helicopters. The fleet order for enough MD-530Fs is already in place (q.v. Sept 26/14), and they’ve already created that modification: the MD-530G. $21.7 million is committed immediately.
The MD-530G is the right kind of helicopter to make a difference on Afghanistan’s battlefield, in an environment where the Afghan military is doing most of the fighting. Can they keep the helicopters running and supplied with working weapons, pilot them effectively, and hold enough ground to let the MD-530Gs work? Time will tell.
Work will be performed in Mesa, AZ with an estimated completion date of Sept 29/15. One bid was solicited with 1 received by US Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-14-C-0081). See also AIN, “MD Helicopters To Supply ‘Cayuse Warrior’ for Afghan Force”.
Arm them
Sept 26/14: MD Helicopters, Inc. in Mesa, AZ receives a $35.7 million firm-fixed-price contract modification, exercising an option for 12 more Afghan MD-530F primary trainer helicopters, bringing announced orders to 18. Meanwhile, MD Helicopters has been finalizing its MD-530G armed scout model/ conversion. All funds are committed immediately.
Work will be performed in Mesa, AZ, with an estimated completion date of Sept 29/15. US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL is the contracting agency. The contract was announced on this date, but awarded Sept 19/14 (W58RGZ-11-C-0070, PO 0019).
12 more
May 8/12: Sub-contractors. For each new Afghan MD-530F, Cobham Aerospace Communications will supply 4 of its N301A audio controllers; Cobham Antenna Systems will provide VHF communications, VOR/LOC/GS V-Dipole, DME, and Navigation Splitter Antennas; and Cobham Commercial Systems will supply an Artex C406-2HM emergency locator transmitter. Cobham plc [PDF] | Arabian Aerospace.
Feb 21/12: A US Army article discusses the training process and personnel involved in the MD-530F effort.
Sept 13/11: MD Helicopters, Inc. presents the first 3 Afghan MD-530Fs to the U.S. Army, as part of the Rotary Wing Primary Training Aircraft-Afghanistan Program.
Sept 7/11: MD Helicopters, Inc. in Mesa, AZ receives a $14.2 million firm-fixed-price contract modification to provide logistics support and flight training devices for the Afghan Air Force’s MD 530Fs. Work will be performed in Shindand, Afghanistan, with an estimated completion date of March 31/16. One bid was solicited for this, with one bid received by U.S. Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-11-C-0070).
AAFMarch 14/11: MD Helicopters, Inc. in Mesa, AZ wins an initial $19.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for 6 new primary training helicopters, 2 corresponding flight training devices, and critical spare parts for the Afghan Air Force.
That initial order could reach as many as 54 helicopters over the life of the 4 year contract, giving it an implicit value of up to $180 million. Work will be performed in Mesa, AZ with an estimated completion date of March 31/16. The U.S. Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, AL solicited 9 bids, with 4 bids received (W58RGZ-11-C-0070).
First 6 helicopters and infrastructure
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Két kedves olvasóm-kommentelőm is a segítségemre sietett, hogy ne maradjak repülőnap-tudósítás nélkül a hétvégén. Köszönet Szabolcsnak és Leventének!
A Svéd Hadsereg IRIS-T SLS-ét Bv414-esre tervezik, meglehetősen egyszerű kivitelű, és törékenynek tűnő indítóra (standard konténerméretű menethelyzetben a csomag, a lánctalpas vontatmány hátán), aminek sínjei kísértetiesen hasonlítanak a LAU-7-esre.
Nagy a tömeg, de így is látszik a jellegzetes Hägglunds-szerelvény.
Az idei szliácsi repülőnap sem telt el defekt nélkül. Most a Patrulla Águilát érte a szerencse...azért szerencse, mert egy ilyen eset súlyos eseménybe is torkollhat. Itt nem ez történt csak várnia kellett a közönségnek az amúgy is luftos repnapon.
August 28, 2016 (MATHIANG) – Commissioner of Longechuk county in the oil rich Upper Nile region, Lieutenant Colonel Dak Tut Dey, has called on aid agencies to provide emergency relief assistance in response to heavy floods which have submerged several buildings including the main health center in the county's administrative headquarters of Mathiang and other payams of the county.
In a statement he issued and forwarded to Sudan Tribune last Thursday, the Commissioner, Dey, said more than 56,000 people with over 11,000 households have been displaced by the floods leaving their shelters underwater and destroyed their properties.
The mostly affected payams, he said, include Mathaing (county headquarters), Jangok, Warweng, Malow, Majiok, Belwang and Palguop.
“I would like to bring this horrific situation to all NGOs partners' attention for quick intervention as many HHs need NFIs (Blankets, Mosquito nets, plastic sheets and buckets or Jerri cans) should be given to the affected populations of Longechuk County. This will assist them rebuild their livelihoods, safeguard them from harsh weather and protect their dignity before they put up the traditional ones [shelters],” Commissioner Dey said.
He said the populations mainly affected include the elderly, underage children, pregnant women, lactating mothers and farmers, whose cultivated crops had been destroyed as well.
Longechuk county is mostly under the control of the opposition faction led by Riek Machar, former South Sudan's First Vice President. Commissioner Dey was appointed by the opposition leader, Machar.
The county is close to both the Sudanese and Ethiopian borders to the north and east, respectively. In Upper Nile state it borders Maiwut county to the east, Nasir county to the southeast, Akoka county to the southwest, Melut county to the west and Mabaan county to the northwest.
Its administrative payams include Gueng, Warweng, Jangok Udier, Dajo, Chotbora, Pamach, Jongjith, Malual, Guelguk, Belwang and Mathiang administrative headquarters.
(ST)
August 28, 2016 (JUBA) - The South Sudanese government has criticised neigbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for allegedly permitting the use of its territory to be used to evacuate armed opposition leader and former first vice president, Riek Machar.
The country's information and broadcasting Minister Michael Makuei Lueth described evacuation of Machar from inside the country using an aircraft coming from Congo as a violation of international law and asked Congolese government through its embassy to explain why they could not inform them if they did not permit the evacuation plan.
The outspoken minister, in a statement on the state-owned SSBC, said "such act does not benefit either of the two countries as well as regional and global peace".
His comments follows a summon by the ministry of foreign Affairs of Congolese ambassador in Juba for a meeting at which the ministry officially protested what it calls border limitation by Congolese authorities. Machar fled the capital, Juba, after government forces attacked his residence following a clash between presidential guard force loyal to president and his (Machar) security details at the presidential palace in Juba, resulting in the death of over 200 soldiers on both sides.
Fearing for his life, he moved out of Juba hoping that the ceasefire he and president Salva Kiir declared would hold for him to return and resume his work at the presidency. But continued attacks by government forces pursuing him forced him to flee into DRC where the United Nations airlifted him after suffering from exhaustion and dehydration.
Commenting on Machar's exit, the foreign ministry spokesman Mawien Makol said the ministry summoned the DRC ambassador in Juba to explain the action by his country. Makol claimed South Sudanese airspace was violated during the evacuation process.
“We summoned the Congolese Ambassador in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, because we were protesting on the border limitation that happened last week when the forces belonging to the former First Vice President crossed the border with him,” said Mawien.
“They [DRC] entered with a flight into the border without the knowledge of the government of the Republic of South Sudan, so that thing of course annoyed us and we have explained to him that this is what happened and he is going to convey the message to his country and that we were not informed about the coming into our border with the flight from Congolese. So they shouldn't come to our airspace without getting permission from this country,” he added.
(ST)
C'était un colloque organisé il y a de cela deux ans, sur le thème de la frontière, à Strasbourg. J'y avais participé (voir ici) à l'invitation de J.-P. Rioux, l'historien français bien connu. J'avais traité le sujet de "La frontière et la guerre demain". Les actes de ce colloque viennent de paraître aux éditions Canopé. Mon texte également (pp. 173-194). J'en donne ci-dessous l'introduction, le plan (un 3-3, j'étais devant des historiens...) et la conclusion. (NB, pour acquérir le livre, contacter les éditions Canopé).
O. Kempf
Le débat public contemporain évoque la frontière de deux façons : soit en constatant leur « disparition », soit en rappelant le principe de leur « intangibilité ». Pourtant, des événements récents viennent contredire cette perception commune : dispute sino-japonaise sur les îles Senkaku ou sino-vietnamienne sur les îles Spratleys, persistance d’un différend indo-pakistanais autour du Cachemire, construction d’un mur séparant Israël et la Cisjordanie, dispositif européen Frontex, rattachement de la Crimée à la Russie … Autant d’exemples qui nous disent que la frontière n’est pas aussi apaisée que nous en avons le sentiment en passant, sans nous apercevoir, de France à Allemagne ou Belgique grâce à l’autoroute ou au Thalys. Au fond, la frontière serait un attribut encore un peu barbare dont on s’étonne qu’il puisse encore susciter des frictions.
Pourtant, force est de constater que ces frontières sont de plus en plus contentieuses. En Grande-Bretagne, les partis politiques disputent farouchement de la nécessité de renforcer les contrôles aux frontières. L’Italie constate la multiplication des drames de l’immigration illégale au large de ses côtes. Des centaines d’hommes, de femmes et d’enfants meurent chaque année en voulant gagner l’Europe ou les États-Unis. Enfin, une des plus graves crises de l’espace européen depuis quinze ans se déroule au sujet de frontières changeantes, aux confins de l’Ukraine et de la Russie où les armes parlent. Autant dire que la frontière n’est pas cet objet aussi apaisé que nous le croyons. La frontière redevient de plus en plus l’enjeu de contentieux, parfois armés. Les rapports de la frontière et de la guerre n’appartiennent pas qu’au passé, en Europe comme dans le vaste monde : il est probable qu’il en soit de plus en plus question, dans un avenir prévisible dont il faut dire quelques mots.
Chacun connaît, depuis Clausewitz, les rapports de la guerre et de la politique. Chacun voit bien que la frontière est un objet structurellement politique. Aussi ne sera-t-on pas surpris que cette étude sur les rapports entre la guerre et la frontière emprunte, régulièrement, à l’analyse politique et géopolitique, autour de notions comme celle de l’État, de la souveraineté ou du monopole de la violence. De même, l’indication temporelle « demain » a l’avantage d’être dynamique et de nous pousser à envisager l’avenir. Toutefois, le lecteur ne sera pas surpris si cette étude se réfère à l’histoire : tout d’abord pour observer les continuités (il y en a) mais surtout pour tenter de saisir les discontinuités. C’est ce rapport entre ce qui demeure et ce qui est déjà en train de changer qui nous permettra, je l’espère, de ne pas trop nous tromper dans l’ébauche de l’avenir. Pour cela, nous proposons une articulation en trois temps, exposant tout d’abord les rapports classiques de la guerre et de la frontière, constatant ensuite qu’aujourd’hui la guerre augmente quand la frontière faiblit, ce qui conduit à envisager un chaos prévisible qui devrait bousculer certaines frontières existantes.
I Les rapports classiques de la guerre et de la frontière A/ Frontières linéaires et non linéaires B/ Souveraineté, enveloppe et guerre civile C/ Voulant geler la guerre, on a gelé les frontières II La guerre augmente quand la frontière faiblit A/ La transformation récente de la guerre B/ Simultanément, l’État s’affaiblit C/ Nouvelles Dynamiques III Un chaos prévisible qui devrait bousculer les frontières A/ Un chaos qui s’étend B/ Un équilibre instable C/ Comment réinventer le politique ? ConclusionLa coexistence de trois modes politiques (pré-westphalisme, westphalisme et post-westphalisme) entraîne des rapports différents à l’organisation du territoire et aux rapports entre entités politiques constituées. Partant, la guerre comme mode d’action et la frontière comme expression de ce mode politique sont soumises à des tendances différentes selon les grandes régions.
Dans certaines zones, on peut prévoir une « extension du domaine de la guerre ». Surtout, la plus grande faiblesse d’un ordre mondial organisé et maîtrisé par l’Occident entraîne en fait une compétition des visions de l’ordre mondial (Kissinger). Enfin, la contiguïté de ces zones soumises à des régimes différents suscite une friction générale le long de ces lignes de contention qu’on pourrait dé »signer par « méga-frontières ».
On le comprend, ce rapport tumultueux entre la guerre et la frontière n’est pas près de s’éteindre. Il s’agit désormais de réfléchir à de nouveaux schémas :
Quelle régulation politique organiser ? L’élection au suffrage universel, symbole de la démocratie, constituerait-elle la bonne formule universellement adaptée ? Comment concilier des droits individuels et des droits collectifs qui seraient porteur du « bien commun » ? Comment concevoir un régime universel qui ne soit pas une « occidentalisation » du monde et qui donc relativise le message et les valeurs occidentales ? Un régime universel qui ne soit pas unifiant et qui prennent en compte les disparités ?
Simultanément, comment concevoir des frontières poreuses, non-linéaires, adaptées au nomadisme et aux mouvements de population tels que nous les observons aujourd’hui ? Peut-on envisager des appartenances politiques multiples ?
Autant de questions qui semblent nécessaires et productrices d’ordre politique : la pensée politique constitue alors un moyen de prévention des conflits et des guerres qui s’annoncent.