27 February 2024

IMH 2024: MDH anticipates sale of ‘several dozen' TH/AH530 rotorcraft to Eastern Europe

by Gareth Jennings

The MDH MD 530F, as it was designated then, was showcased at IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) conference in February 2023. Now known as the TH/AH530, it is again being promoted at the IMH 2024 event, with the company telling Janes it expects to close sales of “several dozen” platforms in Eastern Europe alone. (MDH via Janes/Gareth Jennings)

MD Helicopters (MDH) expects to sell “several dozen” of its TH530 and AH530 rotorcraft to Eastern Europe, with strong interest in the trainer and light attack platforms on the back of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Speaking to Janes ahead of the IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) 2024 conference, running in London from 27 to 29 February, vice-president of sales and marketing at MDH, Jason Lindauer, said the Arizona-based manufacturer has seen strong interest in the TH530 trainer and AH530 light attack helicopters across the Eastern European region, with sales anticipated.

“We believe the [civil variant] MD 530F and the [military variant] TH530, AH530, and AH530 Block II are perfect for many mission sets in Eastern European. We have several opportunities we are working on right now that could result in sales of several dozen aircraft,” Lindauer said. “Their expandability, versatility, and affordability make the aircraft very attractive to military users.”

Lindauer's comments came 12 months after MDH first told Janes at the IMH 2023 event of the burgeoning Eastern European interest in its rotorcraft, with Steve Reyna, MDH senior director of Business Development Europe and Latin America, saying that the continuing war in Ukraine had prompted some Eastern European countries to request information on the ‘Little Bird'-type helicopter.

Though Reyna declined to name these prospective customers at IMH 2023, Janes

MD Helicopters (MDH) expects to sell “several dozen” of its TH530 and AH530 rotorcraft to Eastern Eu...

Jane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.