OH-58 Kiowa

OH-58 Kiowa
275px
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Type	Observation/scout helicopter
Manufacturer	Bell Helicopter Textron
Maiden flight	1962
Introduced	1967
Status	Active service
Primary users	United States Army Taiwan (Republic of China), Saudi Arabia
Produced	1966-1989
Number built	2200+
Developed from	Bell 206

The OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, observation and light attack helicopters manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron and originally based on the company's Bell 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 is operated primarily by the United States Army and it's primary missions are reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering.

Development

Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)

YOH-4A LOH

YOH-4A LOH in flight

In October 1961, the Army submitted a request for proposals (RFP) for the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH). Bell, along with 12 other manufacturers (including Fairchild-Hiller and Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division), entered the competition. Bell submitted their design for model 206, which was selected out of the design phase of the Navy-run competition by the Army and designated as the YHO-4A.

Bell produced 5 prototype aircraft in 1962 to submit to the Army for the Test and Evaluation phase. That same year, all aircraft began to be designated according to the new Joint Services designation system, so the prototype aircraft were redesignated as YOH-4A. During the flight testing phase, the power problems of the YOH-4A eliminated it from consideration for selection.

After the failed military contract bid, Bell attempted to market the model 206, but it didn't fare well at all commercially. Bell's market research showed that it was the body design that customers found mostly unpalatable. When Bell redesigned the body of the airframe to a more sleek and aesthetic design and reintroduced it as model 206A, the JetRanger was born and Bell found they had a commercial success on their hands.

In 1967, the Army reopened the LOH competition for bids because Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division couldn't meet the contractual production demands. Bell resubmitted for the program using their model 206A design. Fairchild-Hiller failed to resubmit their bid with the YOH-5A, which they had successfully marketed as the FH-1100. In the end, Bell underbid Hughes to win the contract and the model 206A was designated as the OH-58A. Following the U.S.Army's naming convention for helicopters, the OH-58A was named Kiowa in honor of the Native American tribe.

Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP)

In the 1970s, the U.S. Army began evaluating the need to improve the capabilities of their scout aircraft. The OH-58A and OH-58C lacked the power for operations in areas that exposed the aircraft to high altitude and hot temperatures. The power shortcoming caused other issues as the AH-64A replaced the venerable AH-1 in the Attack battalions of the Army. To solve the problem, the Army had been searching for a solution called the Advanced Scout Helicopter (ASH), but when the program proved too expensive, the Army opted for a more affordable solution, the Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP). Once again, Bell's design faced off with the Hughes' design. Bell Helicopter Textron offered a more robust version of the OH-58 in their model 406 aircraft, and Hughes Helicopters offered an upgraded version of the OH-6, and in September 1981, Bell Helicopter Textron was awarded a development contract. The prototype flew in 1983, and the aircraft entered service in 1985 as the OH-58D.

Initially intended to be used in attack, cavalry and artillery roles, the Army only approved a low initial production level and confined the role of the OH-58D to field artillery observation. The Army also directed that a follow-on test be conducted to further evaluate the aircraft due to perceived deficiencies. On 1 April 1986, the Army formed a task force at Fort Rucker, Alabama, to remedy deficiencies in the AHIP. Apparently, as a result of those deliberations, the Army had planned to discontinue the OH-58D in 1988 and focus on the LHX, but Congress approved $138 million for expanding the program, calling for the AHIP to operate with the Apache as a hunter/killer team; the AHIP would locate the targets, and the Apache would destroy them in a throwback to the traditional OH-58/AH-1 relationship. However, based on experience with Task Force 118's performance operating armed OH-58D helicopters in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Prime Chance, the Secretary of the Army directed that the aircraft's armament systems be upgraded and that the aircraft be used primarily for scouting and armed reconnaissance.

RAID

In 1989, Congress mandated that the Army National Guard would be a player in the country's War on Drugs enabling them to aid federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with "special congressional entitlements". In response, the Army National Guard Bureau created the Reconnaissance and Aerial Interdiction Detachments (RAID) in 1992, consisting of aviation units in 31 states with 76 specially modified OH-58A helicopters to assume the reconnaissance/interdiction role in the fight against illegal drugs. During 1994 twenty-four states conducted more than 1,200 aerial counterdrug reconnaissance and interdiction missions, conducting many of these missions at night. Eventually, the program was expanded to cover 32 states and consists of 116 aircraft including dedicated training aircraft at the Western Army Aviation Training Site (WAATS) in Marana, Arizona.

The RAID program’s mission has now been expanded to include the war against terrorism and supporting U.S. Border Patrol activities in support of homeland defense. The National Guard RAID units' Area of Operation (AO) is the only one in the Department of Defense that is wholly contained within the borders of the United States.

Variants

OH-58 Kiowa

OH-58A

The OH-58A Kiowa is a 4-place observation helicopter. The Kiowa has two-place pilot seating, although the controls in the left seat are designed to be removed to carry a passenger up front. Its primary mission is to locate the enemy and report the location and/or conduct calls for fire from artillery units nearby to destroy, disrupt or disable the enemy. During its Vietnam development, it was fitted with an M134 Minigun 7.62 mm electrically operated machine gun. In 1978, OH-58A aircraft began to be converted to the same engine and dynamic components as the OH-58C.

74 OH-58A helicopters were delivered to the Canadian Armed Forces as COH-58A and redesignated as CH-136 Kiowa helicopters. The Australian Army produced the OH-58A under contract in Australia as the CA-32. It was essentially the 206B-1 equivalent OH-58A (upgraded engine and longer rotor blades). The first twelve were built in the U.S. then torn down and shipped to Australia where they were reassembled.

In 1992, 76 OH-58A were modified with an engine upgrade, a thermal imaging system, a communications package for law enforcement, enhanced navigational equipment and high skid gear as part of the Army National Guard's (ARNG) Counter-Drug RAID program. The program called for these "OH-58A+" aircraft to be located in 31 states and the Western Army Aviation Training Site (WAATS). By the end of the summer of 1994, 24 states had their detachments operational. The program has currently been expanded to 32 states and a total of 116 aircraft.

OH-58B

The OH-58B Kiowa was an export version for the Austrian Air Force.

OH-58C

OH-58C operated by the National Test Pilot School at the Mojave Airport. The flat windscreen and the IR suppressors on the exhaust can be clearly seen

Equipped with a more robust engine, the OH-58C was supposed to solve many issues and concerns regarding the Kiowa's power. In addition to the upgraded engine, the OH-58C had unique IR suppression systems mounted on its turbine exhaust. Early "C" models featured flat-panel windscreens as an attempt to reduce glint from the sun, which could give away the aircraft's location to an enemy. The windscreens had a negative effect of limiting the forward view of the crew, a previous strength of the original design.

The aircraft were also equipped with an oversized instrument panel. The panel, roughly a third bigger than the OH-58A panel held oversized instruments; primarily for teaching students instrument flying fundamentals. The panel is also equipped with Night Vision Goggle (NVG) compatible cockpit lighting. The lights inside the aircraft are modified to prevent them from interfering with the aircrews' use of NVGs. OH-58C aircraft were also the first U.S. Army scout helicopter to be equipped with the AN/APR-39 radar detector, a system which allowed the crew to know when there were anti-aircraft radar systems in proximity to the aircraft.

Some OH-58C aircraft were armed with two AIM-92 Stingers. These aircraft are sometimes referred to as OH-58C/S, the "S" referring to the Stinger installation. Called Air-To-Air Stinger (ATAS), the weapon system was intended to provide an air defense capability for the Kiowas as they pulled security on the flanks, while the Apaches destroyed tanks in the Engagement Area (EA).

OH-58D

OH-58D Kiowa. Note the lack of weapons pylons.

The OH-58D (Bell Model 406) was the result of the Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP). It was a serious re-thinking of what was needed to be an effective scout aircraft. An upgraded transmission and engine gave it the power it needed, and a four-bladed main rotor made it much quieter than the two-bladed OH-58C. In addition, the OH-58D included the most distinctive feature of the family – a Mast-Mounted Sight (MMS) above the rotor system with a gyro-stabilized platform containing a TeleVision System (TVS), a Thermal Imaging System (TIS), and a Laser Range Finder/Designator (LRF/D). These new features gave the aircraft the additional mission capability of target acquisition and laser designation in both day or night, and in limited-visibility and adverse weather.

15 copies of a modified version of the OH-58D (sometimes referred to as the MH-58D) was sold to Saudi Arabia as the Bell 406CS "Combat Scout". The MMS was removed and replaced with a Saab HeliTOW sight system[1] mounted on the roof of the aircraft, just above the left pilot seat.[2] It also had detachable weapon hardpoints on each side.

Kiowa Warrior

The Kiowa Warrior is the armed version of the OH-58D Kiowa. The main difference that distinguishes the Kiowa Warrior from the original AHIP aircraft is a universal weapons pylon found mounted on both sides of the aircraft. These pylons are capable of carrying combinations of Hellfire missiles, Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS) missiles, 7-shot 2.75" (70mm) Hydra-70 rocket pods, and an M296 .50 caliber machine gun. The Kiowa Warrior upgrade also includes improvements in available power, navigation, communication and survivability, as well as modifications to improve the aircraft's deployability.

Operators

• Australia
  • 161 Recce Squadron
  • 162 Recce Squadron
• Austria
  • Fliegerregiment 1 [3]
• Canada (1971-1995)
  • 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School [4]
  • 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron [5]
  • 401 Tactical and Training Helicopter Squadron (disbanded 23 June 1996) [6]
  • 403 (Helicopter) Operational Training Squadron [7]
  • 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron [8]
  • 411 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (disbanded 23 June 1996) [9]
  • 422 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (disbanded 16 August 1980) [10]
  • 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (430e Escadron Tactique d'Hélicoptères) [11]
  • 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron [12]
• Dominican Republic
• Saudi Arabia
  • 1st Aviation Battalion
• Taiwan (Republic of China)
  • 601st Air Cavalry Brigade
  • 602nd Air Cavalry Brigade
• United States (current)
  • OH-58A/C
    • Eagle Flight Detachment, Fort Irwin
    • Eagle Flight Detachment, Fort Polk
    • Reconnaissance and Aerial Interdiction Detachments (RAID), 32 states
  • OH-58D
    • 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment
    • 2nd Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment
    • 4th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment
    • 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment
    • 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment
    • 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment
    • 3rd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment
    • 6th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment
    • 7th Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment

Specifications

OH-58A Kiowa

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 pilot, 2 pilots, or 1 pilot and 1 observer
• Length: 32 ft 2 in (9.81 m)
• Rotor diameter: 35 ft 4 in (10.77 m)
• Height: 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)
• Empty weight: 1,553 lb (704 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2313 lb (1049 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Allison T63-A-700 turboshaft, 317 shp (236 kW)
• Fuel capacity: 70 gal (264.9 liters)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 120 knots (222.2 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 102 knots (188.9 km/h)

Armament

• M134 7.62 mm "Mini-gun"

or

• M129 40 mm Grenade Launcher

OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 pilots
• Length: 40 ft 8 in (12.39 m)
• Rotor diameter: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
• Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
• Empty weight: 3,290 lb (1,490 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce T703-AD-700A or 250-C30R/3 turboshaft, 650 eshp (485 kW)
• Fuel capacity: 110 US gal (454 L)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 138 mph (222 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 120 mph (195 km/h)
• Range: 345 mi (556 km)
• Service ceiling: 20,500 ft (6,250 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,615 ft/min (8.2 m/s)

Armament

The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior can carry two weapons systems at one time (one on each pylon), among four different weapon systems:

• AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles in 2-count launchers
• Hydra 70 2.75 in (70 mm) rockets in 7-shot pods
• XM296 .50cal (12.7 mm) machine gun, 500 rounds (ammo can capacity) mounted only on the left side
• AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles in 2-count launchers

External links

• M134

Related content

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

OH-58 Kiowa

Related development

• Bell 206
• Bell 407
• ARH-70

Comparable aircraft

• Hughes H-6

Designation sequence

• U.S. Military:
  • TH-55 - AH-56 - TH-57 - OH-58 - XH-59 - UH-60 - YUH-61

• Bell: (OH-58D)
  • 249 - 301 - 309 - 406 - 407 - 409 - 412

Related lists

• List of active United States military aircraft

See also

Bell Aircraft/Bell Helicopters

Fighter aircraft: YFM-1 · P-39 · P-59 · P-63 · XP-77 · XP-83

Commercial Helicopters: 47 · 204 · 205 · 206 · 210 · 212 · 214 · 222 · 230 · 407 · 412 · 417 · 427 · 429 · 430

Military Helicopters: H-13 · UH-1 · 207 · 209 · AH-1 · 309 · YAH-63 · OH-58 · ARH-70

Tiltrotors: V-22 · BA609 · TR918 · QTR

Experimental aircraft: X-1 · X-2 · X-5 · X-20 X-22 · XV-3 · XV-15 · 533 ·