{
  "id": "md-500-defender",
  "name": "MD 500 Defender",
  "aliases": [
    "500MD Defender"
  ],
  "domain": "air",
  "country": "USA",
  "category": "Light multi-role helicopter",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1976,
  "operators": [
    "AFG",
    "ARG",
    "CHL",
    "COL",
    "FIN",
    "ITA",
    "JPN",
    "KEN",
    "KOR",
    "LBN",
    "MEX",
    "MYS",
    "PAN",
    "PHL",
    "PRK",
    "SLV",
    "USA"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 17,
  "summary": "The McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD 500 Defender is a light multi-role military helicopter based on the MD 500 light utility helicopter and OH-6 Cayuse Light Observation Helicopter.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Hughes Helicopters McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems MD Helicopters",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 2,
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hardpoints",
      "section": "armament",
      "v": "2 ea",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.66,
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "1 x Rolls-Royce 250-C20R",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thrust / power",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "450 hp",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rate of climb",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "540 m/min",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "ceiling_m",
      "v": 4230,
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Endurance",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "2.8 hours",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Radio",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Rockwell Collins VHF-251/231 navigation receiver",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Transmitter/Receiver",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Honeywell KY196 transmitter/receiver and KT76 transponder or a Rockwell Collins VHF-251 and TDR-950 transceiver and responder",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Direction Finder",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Honeywell KR-85 automatic direction finder",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Navigation System",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Honeywell dual KX175 navigation system",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Night-Flying Capable",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, night-flying lighting",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Gyroscope",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Attitude and directional gyroscopes",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Crew Cabin",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "The crew cabin features a glazed nose for maximum forward visibility.",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "500D Scout Defender",
      "text": "Armed reconnaissance version",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "500M Defender",
      "text": "Military export version of the 500 and 500C, built under license by Kawasaki in Japan (as the OH-6J)[7] and Breda Nardi in Italy.",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "500M/ASW Defender",
      "text": "Export version for the Spanish Navy.",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "NH-500M Defender",
      "text": "Italian-built version of the 500M Defender. Licensed by Breda Nardi before merge with Agusta.",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "500MD Defender",
      "text": "Military version of the 500D. Korean Air's aerospace division from 1976 to 1984 with 200 choppers made. 50 were armed with TOW anti-tank missiles and 150 choppers used for transportation and support duties.",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "500MD/ASW Defender",
      "text": "Maritime version of the 500MD Defender.",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "500MD/TOW Defender",
      "text": "Anti-tank version of the 500MD Defender, armed with TOW anti-tank missiles.",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "500MD/MMS-TOW Defender",
      "text": "Anti-tank version, fitted with a mast-mounted sight, armed with TOW anti-tank missiles.",
      "src": [
        "weg-md-500-defender"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "helicopter",
  "image": {
    "file": "md-500-defender.jpg",
    "thumb": "md-500-defender-thumb.jpg",
    "credit": "대한민국 국군 Republic of Korea Armed Forces",
    "license": "CC BY-SA 2.0",
    "url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2014.4.15_%EC%9C%A1%EA%B5%B0_3%EC%95%BC%EC%A0%84%EA%B5%B0%EC%82%AC%EB%A0%B9%EB%B6%80_15%ED%95%AD%EA%B3%B5%EB%8B%A8_500MD%EC%82%AC%EA%B2%A9_Republic_of_Korea_Army_(13883235272).jpg",
    "title": "File:2014.4.15 육군 3야전군사령부 15항공단 500MD사격 Republic of Korea Army (13883235272).jpg"
  },
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Added photo (CC BY-SA 2.0)"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/md-500-defender.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-md-500-defender": {
      "title": "MD 500 Defender American Light Multi-Role Helicopter",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/MD_500_Defender_American_Light_Multi-Role_Helicopter",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}