Aircraft & UAVs

MD 530F

Also known as
  • MD-530F
  • MD 530F Cayuse Warrior
  • MD-530F Cayuse Warrior
  • Cayuse Warrior

The MD 530F is the hot-and-high member of the MD 500 helicopter family and the basis for MD Helicopters' Cayuse Warrior scout/attack configuration. Afghan Air Force MD-530 Jengi helicopters were documented in 2015 combat operations and later rocket employment in Kabul, while manufacturer material describes the base airframe as a five-blade, single-engine helicopter for high-temperature and high-altitude missions.

MD 530F, Light utility and scout/attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: DVIDS Afghan Air Force MD-530F Image

Role in Conflicts

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States
Type
Light utility and scout/attack helicopter
Service note
Modern MD 500-series derivative in civil, government, and foreign military service
Designer
MD Helicopters; MD 500/Hughes 369 lineage
Designed
MD 500-series derivative; current MD 530F specifications published by MD Helicopters in 2023
Produced
Current production and support model

Specifications

Crew
Single pilot capable; supports two crewmembers on controls and two observers in the aft cabin
Engine
Rolls-Royce Model 250 Series IV-C30 gas turbine, 650 shp rated power
Main rotor
Five-blade main rotor, 27.50 ft (8.38 m) diameter
Dimensions
23.88 ft (7.28 m) fuselage length; 4.57 ft (1.40 m) fuselage width
External load
2,027 lb (919 kg)
Cayuse Warrior armament
Two FN HMP400 .50-caliber gun pods; EMEP package added an M260 2.75-inch seven-shot rocket pod and fixed-forward sight
Mission fits
Training, utility, light cargo, VIP, law enforcement, search and rescue, medical evacuation, and armed military packages
Variants

This record covers the MD 530F airframe and the armed Cayuse Warrior configuration documented in Afghan Air Force service.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
MD 530F Cayuse WarriorScout/attack configuration

MD Helicopters markets the Cayuse Warrior as the armed MD 530F configuration, and U.S. military imagery documents Afghan Air Force MD-530F Cayuse Warrior operations.

Sources: MD 530F Cayuse Warrior Specifications, MD Helicopters Afghan Air Force 2016 Cayuse Warrior Contract, DVIDS Afghan Air Force MD-530F Image

MD 530F Cayuse Warrior EMEPEnhanced Mission Equipment Package

MD Helicopters described the Enhanced Mission Equipment Package for Afghan Cayuse Warriors as adding an M260 2.75-inch seven-shot rocket pod and DillonAero fixed-forward sight to the armed MD 530F configuration.

Sources: MD 530F Cayuse Warrior EMEP Delivery Release

Carried Armament

MD Helicopters and DVIDS sources describe the armed Cayuse Warrior fit around .50-caliber gun pods and a later seven-shot 2.75-inch rocket-pod package.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
12.7 mm gun pod, 0.50-caliber gun pod, Support Equipment12.7 mm gun pod.50-caliber aircraft gun pod

MD Helicopters and DVIDS identify Afghan MD 530F/Jengi helicopters with two FN Herstal HMP 400 .50-caliber machine-gun pods.

Sources: MD 530F Cayuse Warrior EMEP Delivery Release, DVIDS MD-530 Jengi Helmand Operations, Machine-gun pods | FN Herstal

2.75-inch rocket pod, Aircraft rocket pod, Munitions2.75-inch rocket podSeven-shot 70 mm rocket launcher

MD Helicopters says the Enhanced Mission Equipment Package features an M260 2.75-inch seven-shot rocket pod; the catalog's 2.75-inch rocket-pod record covers M260 as an alias and variant.

Sources: MD 530F Cayuse Warrior EMEP Delivery Release, M260 Lightweight Launcher | Arnold Defense

Hydra-70 rocket system, 2.75-inch air-launched rocket family, MunitionsHydra-70 rocket system2.75-inch air-launched rocket family

The MD 530F EMEP source identifies a 2.75-inch rocket pod, and General Dynamics documents Hydra-70 compatibility with seven-tube launchers.

Sources: MD 530F Cayuse Warrior EMEP Delivery Release, HYDRA-70 Rocket | General Dynamics OTS

Timeline

MD 530F Key Events

  1. First armed Afghan Cayuse Warriors arrive

    MD Helicopters announced the arrival of the first six armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior scout/attack helicopters for the Afghan Air Force in Kabul.

    Sources: MD Helicopters First Six Afghan Air Force Cayuse Warriors

  2. Combat debut reported in Nangarhar

    AFCENT reported that Afghan Air Force MD-530 helicopters made a combat debut against insurgents as Afghan forces cleared districts in Nangarhar Province.

    Sources: AFCENT MD-530 Jengi Combat Debut

  3. MD-530 Jengi helicopters deploy to Helmand operations

    DVIDS reported Afghan Air Force MD-530s departing Kabul for Helmand operations supporting convoy escort, reconnaissance, overwatch, and close air support.

    Sources: DVIDS MD-530 Jengi Helmand Operations

  4. Additional Cayuse Warriors ordered

    MD Helicopters announced a follow-on order for twelve MD 530F Cayuse Warrior scout/attack helicopters with mission equipment including HMP400 gun pods and 2.75-inch rocket capability.

    Sources: MD Helicopters Afghan Air Force 2016 Cayuse Warrior Contract

  5. Afghan MD-530 pilot fires rockets in Kabul

    CENTCOM reported that an Afghan MD-530 pilot fired five rockets at ISIS-K insurgents during an Afghan-led operation in Kabul.

    Sources: CENTCOM Afghan MD-530 ISIS-K Rocket Strike

Media

MD 530F Videos

MD 530F Images

MD 530F, Light utility and scout/attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: DVIDS Afghan Air Force MD-530F Image
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Sources

MD 530F SpecificationsPublisher: MD Helicopters | Note: Supports MD 530F manufacturer attribution, airframe description, mission fits, engine, rotor, dimensions, external load, and hot-and-high operating context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13MD 530F Cayuse Warrior SpecificationsPublisher: MD Helicopters | Note: Supports the armed Cayuse Warrior variant label and manufacturer context for the MD 530F scout/attack configuration. | Accessed: 2026-07-13MD Helicopters First Six Afghan Air Force Cayuse WarriorsPublisher: MD Helicopters | Note: Supports the March 2015 arrival of the first six armed MD 530F Cayuse Warrior scout/attack helicopters for the Afghan Air Force in Kabul and the Fighting Season 2015 force-expansion context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13MD Helicopters Afghan Air Force 2016 Cayuse Warrior ContractPublisher: MD Helicopters | Note: Supports Afghan Air Force follow-on Cayuse Warrior deliveries, 2015 operational context, and the mission equipment package naming HMP400 gun pods and 2.75-inch rocket capability. | Accessed: 2026-07-13MD 530F Cayuse Warrior EMEP Delivery ReleasePublisher: MD Helicopters | Note: Supports the Afghan Air Force Cayuse Warrior EMEP context, original two-pod HMP 400 gunship fit, M260 2.75-inch seven-shot rocket pod, DillonAero fixed-forward sight, and official MD Helicopters EMEP test video selection. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DVIDS MD-530 Jengi Helmand OperationsPublisher: DVIDS | Note: Direct 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict-use source: documents Afghan Air Force MD-530 Jengi helicopters deploying from Kabul to Helmand operations for convoy escort, aerial reconnaissance, armed overwatch, and close air support, with two HMP 400 .50-caliber gun pods per aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-13AFCENT MD-530 Jengi Combat DebutPublisher: U.S. Air Forces Central | Note: Direct 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict-use source: reports Afghan Air Force MD-530 helicopters making a combat debut against insurgents in Nangarhar and describes reconnaissance, security, escort, close-air-attack, and aerial-interdiction missions. | Accessed: 2026-07-13CENTCOM Afghan MD-530 ISIS-K Rocket StrikePublisher: U.S. Central Command | Note: Direct 2001 War in Afghanistan conflict-use source: documents an Afghan MD-530 pilot firing five rockets at ISIS-K insurgents during an Afghan-led operation in Kabul on 2018-08-21. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Machine-gun pods | FN HerstalPublisher: FN Herstal | Note: Supports HMP250/HMP400 family context, the FN M3P .50-caliber gun-pod basis, HMP400 capacity, and helicopter or subsonic-aircraft carriage. | Accessed: 2026-07-13M260 Lightweight Launcher | Arnold DefensePublisher: Arnold Defense | Note: Supports the M260 as a seven-round 2.75-inch / 70 mm lightweight launcher for rotary-wing aircraft requiring onboard firing control. | Accessed: 2026-07-13HYDRA-70 Rocket | General Dynamics OTSPublisher: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems | Note: Supports Hydra-70 as a 2.75-inch / 70 mm rocket family fired from existing seven- and 19-tube launchers on rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DVIDS Afghan Air Force MD-530F ImagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports public-domain image provenance and background identification of an MD-530F Cayuse Warrior with its documented gun fit. | Accessed: 2026-07-13DVIDS Afghan Air Force MD-530F Gun Run ImagePublisher: DVIDS | Note: Supports public-domain gallery provenance for an Afghan Air Force MD-530F Cayuse Warrior maneuvering for another gun run during the April 2015 firing demonstration. | Accessed: 2026-07-13