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HelicoptersIn service
Light multi-role military helicopter
McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender is a light multi-role military helicopter originating in United States. It was built by Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters.
United StatesMcDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender
SSGT Arnold W. Kalmanson · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · ModifiedLight multi-role military helicopter
United States
Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters
In service
Republic of Korea Army Iraqi Air Force Israeli Air Force Philippine Air Force
471
1976–present
1976
Hughes OH-6 Cayuse MD Helicopters MD 500
2
30 ft 9.5 in (9.385 m) rotors running
8 ft 8.5 in (2.654 m) to top of rotor hub
1,512 lb (686 kg)
2,550 lb (1,157 kg) normal MTOW
1 × Allison Model 250-C20B turboshaft engine, 420 shp (310 kW)
26 ft 4.75 in (8.0455 m)
132 kn (152 mph, 244 km/h) at 1,000 ft (300 m)
117 kn (135 mph, 217 km/h) at sea level
318 nmi (366 mi, 589 km) at 4,000 ft (1,200 m)
4,390 ft (1,340 m)
1,700 ft/min (8.6 m/s)
8,200 ft (2,500 m)
5,300 ft (1,600 m)
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
True scale
Sourced dimensions beside a 1.75 m human reference.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept 2026 | 9.385 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
AfghanistanReported count for MD500 Defender · MD 530F. Service scope: Afghan Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 5. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2025), not the article revision. 2025 cited publication year. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
ArgentinaNumber column of the Wikipedia list table under "Helicopters". The list's own wording applies; it is a compiled secondary source, not an official census.
ChileNumber column of the Wikipedia list table under "Helicopters". The list's own wording applies; it is a compiled secondary source, not an official census.
ColombiaReported count for MD 500 Defender · 530. Country-wide list; no individual service specified. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): in service: 4. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2025), not the article revision. 2025 cited source edition. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
El SalvadorReported count for McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender. Service scope: Salvadoran Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): inventory: 7. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
FinlandNumber column of the Wikipedia list table under "Army aviation", 2 rows summed. The list's own wording applies; it is a compiled secondary source, not an official census.
ItalyReported count for MD 500 · NH-500M. Service scope: Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 37. Origin: USA Italy. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2026), not the article revision. 2026 cited source edition. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
KenyaReported count for MD 500 Defender · 530F. Service scope: Kenya Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 45. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2025), not the article revision. 2025 cited publication year. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
Lebanon
MalaysiaReported count for MD530 · MD530G. Service scope: Malaysian Army; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 6. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2022), not the article revision. Cited source 2022-01-14. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
MexicoReported count for MD 500 Defender · 530F. Service scope: Mexican Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): in service: 13. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2024), not the article revision. 2024 cited publication year. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
Nigeria
South Korea
TaiwanReported count for McDonnell Douglas MD 500 Defender · 500MD/ASW Defender. Service scope: Republic of China Navy; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): in service: 7. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2020), not the article revision. Cited source 2020-12-04. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.
Republic of Korea Army Iraqi Air Force Israeli Air Force Philippine Air Force
Equipment reference ↗Reported count for MD 500 Defender. Service scope: Kenya Army; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): number: 39. Origin: United States. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. Dates are the count-cell citations' stated source period (2021), not the article revision. 2021 cited publication year. Edition or publication years do not claim an exact inventory census day.