Scout Helicopter – MD530 Defender "Littlebird"

Description

The Boeing (McDonnell Dougles) (formerly Hughes model 369) OH-6A, was designed for use as a military scout during the Vietnam war to meet the U.S. Army’s need for an extremely maneuverable light observation helicopter (LOH program). The Hughes OH-6A Cayuse was quite effective when teamed with the AH-1G Cobra attack helicopter as part of what were known as “Pink Teams”. The OH-6A “Loach” would find targets by flying low, “trolling” for fire, and lead in a Cobra, or “Snake”, to attack. The OH-6A could be armed with the M27 armament subsystem, the M134 six-barrel 7.62mm “minigun” or the M129 40mm grenade launcher on the XM8 armament subsystem.

Two special operations versions of the OH-6A are the “Little Bird” AH-6C armed variant, and the MH-6B transport/utility version, which can carry up to six personnel for quick insertion and extraction missions. A previous version, the EH-6B, was used for command, control and radio relay. The MH-6 Little Bird is the only light assault helicopter in the Army inventory. It provides assault helicopter support to special operations forces and can be armed with a combination of guns and folding fin aerial rockets. It has an unrefueled range of 250 nautical miles. The AH-6 Little Bird Gun, a light attack helicopter, has been tested and proven in combat. Armed with guns, Hellfire missiles, and 2.75-inch FFAR, it provides armed helicopter support to both ground and air special operations. The unrefueled range of the AH-6 is 250 nautical miles. These versions were all powered by a single Allison T-63 252 SHP engine.
Later versions are based on the successful Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) MD-500/MD-530 series helicopters. The latest versions of these aircraft, the AH-6J attack helicopter and MH-6J insertion and extraction transport, based on the MD-530F, feature a more powerful engine and improved avionics, including an embedded GPS/inertial navigation system and forward-looking infrared (FLIR). The AH-6J can be armed with two seven-tube 2.75 inch rocket launchers and two 7.62mm M134 “miniguns”. The “Little Bird” can also be armed with .50 Cal. machine guns, MK19 40mm grenade machine gun, Hellfire missiles, and Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS) missiles.

VARIANTS
OH-6A/Cayuse: Developed initially by the Hughes Aircraft company (later McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Company) in the mid-1960s for the US Army. Fitted with 1x 253-shp Allison T63-A-5A turboshaft, 4 bladed main rotor, and an offset “V” tail.
Hughes 500M: Military export version of OH-6 in mid-1970s with upgraded 278-shp Allison 250-C18 turboshaft engine, “V” tail. A recontoured nose allowed for greater leg and head room. Modifications were also made to the rotor assembly by way of a five blade main rotor which increased stability.
MD-500MD/Scout and TOW Defender: Improved military version of the model 500 with 5 main rotor blades, 375-shp Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine, and T-tail.
MD-500E/MD-500MG/Defender II: Had a more elongated nose for streamlining, and an optional 4x blade tail rotor for reduced acoustic signatures. Possible mast-mounted sight.
OH-6A/MD-530F Super Cayuse/Lifter: Upgraded engine to a 425-shp Allison 250- C30 turboshaft, and avionics in 1988 for the US Army.
MD-530MG/Defender: Has a mast-mounted sight, and incorporated upgrades of all previous variants.
AH/MH-6J: US Army Special Operations variant derived from the MD-530MG.

"Real World" Armaments

The MD500 series helicopters can carry a selection of the following weapons systems:

2 - M134 7.62-mm 6x barrel, Gatling type twin MG pods
2 - M260 2.75-in Hydra 70 rocket pods (7 or 12 each)
2 - .50 cal MG pods
2 - M75 40-mm grenade launchers
2 - MK19 40-mm grenade launcher
2 - TOW missile pods (2 each)
2 - Hellfire ATGM
2 - Stinger AAM

2) 3)

BF2 Version

Information

First of all, the biggest thing about the scout helis is that they come with built in UAV’s. You can roam the battlefield finding enemies on your mobile UAV, reposition and gun em down! This means that a lot of the time, each team actually has two UAV’s working.
The BF2 version of the MD530 is a brilliant piece of kit and really good fun to use. Although it doesn’t feature any rocket pods or grenade launchers, it does come equipped with the M134 miniguns (as used on the BF2 UH-60 Blackhawk) which do actually kill enemies from in flight!
Coming with a pilot and two seats on the side for passengers, it can be used in both offensive and transport operations.
The MD530 is small, highly agile, powerful and can actually take out the attack helis with relative ease because of this. Hitting a scout heli with a TV missile is very difficult (they are small, and of course the hitboxes live up to their name) so only the Mi-28 can really put up a decent fight with its all powerful cannon.

Although the MD530 can totally dominate infantry, transport vehicles and helicopters - it can also be used in anti-armour operations. If the pilot is playing as support and has a team of engineers in the passenger seats, they can chuck AT mines out the side. With an unlimited supply of mines, you can keep circling enemy armour until it hits a mine! Not only that, but when the helicopter is taking damage, by looking directly downwards - the engineers can actually repair the helicopter. A good squad can keep an MD530 airborne for a long period of time and keep it ticking on 1 bar of health until it hits the helipad for repairs.

Beware of both mobile and stationary AA and heavy machine guns (i.e. transport and armour) since they will rip you apart. Flare up and get down low between the trees and cliffs to lose the lock. Enemy jets also pose a problem since their cannon is very effective against your light armour.

In scout-heli to scout-heli combat, the MD530 should win everytime. Not only is is the most agile, but its guns fire very close together at the centre, so you are landing 2 shots on the target per hit.