MD530F for Latvian Air Force
On 28 September 2023, Textron Aviation Inc., Wichita (KS) was awarded a USD 100 million firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of new aircraft. The contracting activity party is the Army Contracting Command (ACC), Redstone Arsenal (AL).
Related to this contract, our aviation friend Ian Carroll came across a sourcing contract from the ACC Redstone Arsenal for component repair and contracted field service for the support of Latvian Air Force MD530F Cayuse Warrior helicopters. This sourcing contract mentioned four MD530Fs destined for the Latvijas Gaisa Spéki (Latvian Air Force) at Lielvārde air base. The work is estimated to have a start date in calendar year 2026 or 2027 and last for a minimum of two years.
The information does not indicate if the Latvian Air Force ordered newly built helicopters or a possible transfer of former Afghan Air Force MD530Fs that are currently operated by the US Army Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD) at Redstone. However, if we look at the given timelines, the purchase of newly built helicopters seems to be the most obvious.
To be continued ...
Credit photo (just illustrative): MD Helicopters (MDH)