Illustrative image. Source: lebarmy.gov.lb
On January 5, one of six McDonnell Douglas MD 530F+ light scout attack helicopters which were recently supplied by the US to the Lebanese Air Force (LAF) crash landed in the northern Lebanese area of Hadath El Jebbeh.
Mayor of Hadath El-Jebba, George Shedrawi, told Lebanon 24 that the helicopter crew made an emergency landing over a wooded area after hearing a loud cracking sound.
While the crew survived the rough landing, the helicopter was completely destroyed. Its main rotor and tail boom were ripped off.
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An LAF helicopter made an emergency landing in the Hadath al-Jabba area, and the mayor explains: The soldiers who were on board the helicopter heard a strange sound while they were flying, so they landed on the trees, all of them are in good health pic.twitter.com/mzb8LyoHft— leb news 🇱🇧 (@Lebnews2004) January 5, 2022
The US supplied six MD 530F+ light scout attack helicopters to the LAF last October. The helicopters were supplied under a contract signed in 2018.
The MD 530F+ has an operational range of 589 kilometers. The LAF helicopters are equipped with the WESCAM MX-10D EO/IR laser designator and armed with APKWS [Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System] 70 mm laser-guided rockets.
The helicopter that crash landed near Hadath El Jebbeh was apparently armed with two LAU-68D/A pods for APKWS or basic Hydra 70 rockets.
The LAF has not released any statement on the incident, yet. Meanwhile, the US embassy continues to ignore criticism from some Lebanese activists who believe that Washington supplied Lebanon with faulty helicopters.
The US military aid for Lebanon is mainly meant to turn the army against Hezbollah. However, the relations between the two are still strong.
USA gave them shit equipment so it can’t be used against Israel. Hopefully Hezbollah and Iran upgrade them and make useable
Lots of helos and drones are crashing in that region…
The dud patriots and iron dud are having epic failures against mostly WW2 era grads.
Americans are the most stupid animals on earth, Hezbollah is Lebanon and 70% of Lebanese Army is Shia Muslims, so they are infact arming Hezbollah with these faulty weapons. However, is all going down literally.