Mcdonnell Douglas Md 500 Defender. Multi-purpose Helicopter

McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender. Multi-purpose helicopter

MD 500 Defender – multipurpose helicopter developed by the American firm McDonnell Douglas Helicopter on the basis of the helicopter Model 500MD. Lightweight, extremely mobile and relatively inexpensive helicopters belong to the smallest helicopters designed for reconnaissance, combat tanks and armored vehicles, fire support for ground troops. The helicopter established ski aluminum alloy chassis with oil shock absorbers. The helicopter is armed (in an antitank variant) 30-mm cannon or machine gun caliber 7,62 mm and four anti-tank guided missiles “Toy” or 14 unguided rockets caliber 70 mm. In the reconnaissance version – 40-mm grenade launcher, 14 rocket projectiles caliber 70 mm and 7.62-mm machine gun.

Modifications of the helicopter:

MD 500 Scout Defender – reconnaissance version.

MD 500 TOW Defender – anti-variant.

MD 500 MMS-TOW Defender – anti-variant with the guidance system on the main screw.

MD 500 ASW Defender – anti-variant with a search radar, a system of determining magnetic anomalies ASQ-81 and anti-submarine torpedoes Mk.46.

MD 500 Defender II – multi-purpose version of the SD AIM-92 Stingrey.

The main tactical and technical characteristics:

Year of adopting – 1966

Main rotor diameter – 8,03 m

Tail rotor diameter – 1,30 m

Length – 7,01 m

Height – 2,48 m

Weight, kg

- Empty – 557

- Normal take-off – 1089

- Maximum take-off – 1225

Domestic fuel – 233 + 80 l

Engine Type – 1 GTD Allison T63-A-5A

Power take-off – 255 hp

Routing power – 215 hp

Maximum speed – 241 km / h

Cruising speed – 237 km / h

Range – 2510 km

Combat range – 611 miles

Rate of climb – 381 m / min

Service ceiling – 4815 m

Hovering ceiling – 3595 m

Crew – 1-2 people

Payload: 2 passengers or 4 soldiers, or 463 kg of cargo