A MD Helicopters (Hughes) MD500E scout and utility helicopter of the Kenyan Army on 13 July crashed at Kithyoko, Ma halos County. The crash, killed both aircraft pilot, with the cause yet to be ascertained.
The MD500E helicopter with registration number ‘539’ was on a training flight before it crashed, says a Kenyan Military statement.
The Kenyan Defense Force operates around three dozen MD500s received 40 MD500s between 1980 and 1985, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, along with 2,100 TOW anti-tank missiles.
These are complemented by six newly acquired MD530Fs delivered from the United States in December 2019.
In 2018, Nairobi placed an order for six of the next generation MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light attack helicopter from MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI).
This would add to Kenya’s already growing fleet of light attack and scout helicopter which includes eight AS350 FENNEC helicopter, MD 500 helicopters and AH-1 Cobra attack helicopter.