8-Aug-2017 Source: MD Helicopters
MD Helicopters anticipates receipt of AWR by EOY 2017.
“Our commitment to the continued advancement of our fleet is matched only by our unwavering support of and service to the warfighter,” said Lynn Tilton, Chief Executive Officer for MD Helicopters. “369FF type-certified helicopters have long been heralded as among the safest ever manufactured, and have been preferred by U.S. and Allied militaries since the Vietnam Era. With this enhanced qualification, our already proven light scout attack fleet will be further prepared to execute their missions and better able to protect their crew.”
Driven by an urgent requirement from our military operators, we have partnered with Robertson Fuel Systems to ensure our ballistic tolerant crashworthy fuel system exceeds all requirements for self-sealing, fuel containment, survivability and ease of installation and maintenance.
“It is our honor to partner with MD Helicopters on the qualification of a ballistic tolerant crashworthy fuel system for the MD 530,” said Robertson Fuel Systems’ Chief Executive Officer Newman Shufflebarger. “We believe our expertise as a global leader in the development of military-grade fuel systems made us a natural choice for this effort, but it is our shared commitment to excellence, to exceeding operator expectations, and, ultimately, to the safety and security of the warfighter that truly makes this a perfect partnership.”
The Ballistic Tolerant Crashworthy Fuel System will feature:
“We are excited to collaborate with a company having Robertson’s breadth and depth of experience developing and perfecting military-grade fuel systems for combat aircraft,” said Mike Bartlett, Vice President of Product Engineering for MD Helicopters, Inc. “We are confident this development will enhance the already exemplary record of 369FF type-certified helicopters, and continue to provide the modern warfighter with the safety and survivability they deserve.”
All future U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales of armed MD 530 aircraft will include the BTCWFS as the baseline fuel system.
“In addition to delivering military rotorcraft aviators unmatched safety and survivability,” Tilton concludes, “the completion of this effort will also increase auxiliary fuel capacity for our MD 530 gunships by 65%, improving range and endurance, and broadening the performance envelope for an ever-expanding array of mission profiles.”
