The “Little Birds” will be deployed to support army operations in Sabah's east coast.
PETALING JAYA: Six MD530G light scout attack helicopters, known as “Little Birds”, are set to boost security in the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM).
In a statement, military helicopter manufacturer MD Helicopters Inc announced that it would supply six of the helicopters to the Malaysian Army’s aviation unit from the fourth quarter of 2016, with the full fleet delivered by the end of the first quarter of next year.
The MD530G helicopters are expected to be deployed in ESSCOM to perform attack, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and security missions in support of the army operations there.
Described as highly agile and capable scout attack helicopters, the “Little Birds” have a top speed of 130 knots (240kph) and can be configured to include advanced avionics, forward-looking infrared sensors, guided and unguided rockets, and onboard machine guns.
The six helicopters will have a customised weapons package, advanced communication capabilities and state-of-the-art detection devices to identify and engage a wide range of threats.
MD Helicopters chief executive officer Lynn Tilton said the company was committed to advancing the local capabilities in relation to long-term service, support and effective operations of the fleet.
ESSCOM covers 1,400km of the coastline, stretching from Kudat to Tawau. It was established after the 2013 intrusion by Suluks from the southern Philippines.
http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2016/02/02/six-attack-copters-to-boost-esscom-security/
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