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MD 500 Defender
Photo: SSGT Arnold W. Kalmanson · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
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MD500Defender

Multirole Fighters · United States · 1976
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MD500Defender

MD 500 Defender
MD 500 Defender Photo: SSGT Arnold W. Kalmanson · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain
* Absolute score — assessed within category · no era adjustment
Versatility
68
Air-to-Air Capability
30
Air-to-Ground Capability
75
Avionics
55
Range & Payload
60
Speed & Agility
70
Survivability
45
Reliability
78
Technology
58
Cost-Effectiveness
80
Origin United States
CategoryMultirole Fighters
EraCold War
In service1976
Operators21 countries
Quantity471
Data Quality87%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
60
Multirole Fighters MASS Rating
21/25
Cold War
63/88
All-Time
Multirole Fighters · 10 axes scored
Versatility
68
Air-to-Air Capability
30
Air-to-Ground Capability
75
Avionics
55
Range & Payload
60
Speed & Agility
70
Survivability
45
Reliability
78
Technology
58
Cost-Effectiveness
80
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the multirole fighters category.
01 / Overview
MD 500 Defender
Production
1976–
Quantity
471
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MULTIROLE FIGHTERS · COLD WAR
21
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
85
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
60
multirole fighters category
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the multirole fighters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General4MOD.4
  • First Flight1976
  • Crew1
  • Primary Rolelight multi-role military helicopter
  • In ServiceYes
◈Powerplant3MOD.3
  • Engine Typeturboshaft
  • Engine ModelRolls‑Royce 250-C20
  • Number of Engines1
◇Avionics & Stealth3MOD.3
◆Service History1MOD.1
  • Operational StatusIn service
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
  1. 1945First deployment: Cold War
  2. 1967Entered service
  3. 1976Production started
50
years in service
471
units produced
20
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 1 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
MD 500 DEFENDER · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Inventory1country · 32units
32active
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
Air-to-air missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to engage other aircraft. They are used for self-defense and to gain air superiority.
Air-to-Ground Missiles are guided missiles fired from aircraft to attack ground targets. They enable aircraft to engage and destroy enemy ground positions, vehicles, and installations.
A helmet-mounted display system that allows pilots to aim weapons by looking at targets, tracking head movements to direct sensors or weapons.
A targeting pod is an external sensor module mounted on aircraft that provides laser designation, infrared imaging, and range‑finding to support precision strike and reconnaissance.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources
📖 ENCYCLOPEDIA Browse the Multirole Fighters entry →