The United States has delivered four MD 530F helicopters to the Armed Forces of El Salvador (FAES) through its embassy in El Salvador.
The US donated the equipment with the objective of supporting the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), the embassy said.
Also referred to as Little Birds, the MD 530F scout attack helicopters are built by MD Helicopters and can carry Dillion M134 mini gun, FN Herstal heavy machine guns and rocket machine gun pods, as well as the 2.75-inch folding-fin aerial rockets.
The five-blade, single engine helicopter is a multi-purpose aircraft used by both commercial and military operators. The US has delivered different variants of the helicopters to the armed forces of Malyasia, Lebanon and Afghanistan.
The four helicopters delivered to El Salvador include two units in white UN livery, which will be deployed to the MINUSMA mission, while the other two will support various security missions in-country.
In addition to the helicopters, the US government also delivered a fire truck, a tanker, generators and a forklift.
Presiding over the delivery ceremony on October 26, The Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in El Salvador, Katherine Dueholm, highlighted “the valuable contribution of the Salvadoran missions in the African nation.”
