MD-500 Defender (North Korea Illicit Copy)
Type: Light Reconnaissance Helicopter
Domain: air
Country of Origin: North Korea
Manufacturer: Korean Peoples Army Munitions Industry
First Deployed: 1985
Overview
North Korea illegally obtained approximately 87 Hughes MD-500 Defender light helicopters in 1983 through a third-country arms embargo violation, and subsequently produced domestic copies. Used primarily for reconnaissance and light attack, the MD-500 is agile and compact. Without access to original US components, domestic copies are of uncertain quality and reliability. Limited weapons capacity and lack of modern sensors restrict operational utility significantly.
Technical Specifications
| range | 430 km |
|---|---|
| engine | 1x Allison 250-C20B (original) |
| length | 9.4 m |
| armament | 7.62mm minigun or 70mm unguided rockets (limited) |
| max_speed | 282 km/h |
| service_ceiling | 4,815 m |
| main_rotor_diameter | 8.05 m |
Operators
- North Korea
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