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==Розробка==
On 14 October 1960, the [[United States Navy]] asked 25 helicopter manufacturers on behalf of the Army for proposals for a [[Light Observation Helicopter]] (LOH). [[Bell Helicopter]] entered the competition along with 12 other manufacturers, including [[Hiller Aircraft]] and [[Hughes Helicopters|Hughes Tool Co., Aircraft Division]].<ref>Remington, Steve. [http://www.collectair.com/cessna.html "The Cessna CH-1 Helicopter".] CollectAir.com</ref> Bell submitted the ''D-250'' design, which would be designated as the ''[[Bell YOH-4|YHO-4]]''.<ref name="LOH-1">Beechy, Robert. [http://fire.prohosting.com/hud607/uncommon/reference/usa/army.html "U.S Army Aircraft Acquisition Programs".] ''Uncommon Aircraft 2006''. 18 November 2005. Accessed on 19 September 2006.</ref> On 19 May 1961, Bell and Hiller were announced as winners of the design competition.<ref>''See [[Light Observation Helicopter]]''. The Navy, who was assisting the Army in the selection phase, recommended the Hiller Model 1100, while the Army team preferred the Bell D-250, and then the 1100. The Selection Board selected both aircraft. Afterwards, the acting Army Chief of Staff directed the Selection Board to include the Hughes 369 in the fly-off competition.</ref><ref>Spangenberg, George A. ''[http://www.georgespangenberg.com/gasoralhistory.pdf George A. Spangenberg Oral History]''. georgespangenberg.com. Judith Spangenberg-Currier, ed. pp. 187-190. Accessed on 29 April 2008.</ref>

===Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)===
Bell developed the D-250 design into the ''Model 206'' aircraft, redesignated as ''YOH-4A'' in 1962, and produced five prototype aircraft for the Army's test and evaluation phase. The first prototype flew on 8 December 1962.<ref name="1000photos-1">Visschedijk, Johan. [http://www.1000aircraftphotos.com/HistoryBriefs/Bell206.htm "Bell 206 JetRanger".] 1000AircraftPhotos.com. 16 October 2003. Accessed on 19 September 2006.</ref> The YOH-4A also became known as the ''Ugly Duckling'' in comparison to the other contending aircraft.<ref name="1000photos-1"/> Following a flyoff of the Bell, Hughes and Fairchild-Hiller prototypes, the [[Hughes OH-6 Cayuse]] was selected in May 1965.<ref>Spenser, Jay P. "Bell Helicopter". ''Whirlybirds, A History of the U.S. Helicopter Pioneers'', p. 263. University of Washington Press, 1998. ISBN 0-295-98058-3.</ref>

When the YOH-4A was rejected by the Army, Bell went about solving the problem of marketing the aircraft. In addition to the image problem, the helicopter lacked cargo space and only provided cramped quarters for the planned three passengers in the back. The solution was a fuselage redesigned to be more sleek and aesthetic, adding 16 cubic feet (0.45&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup>) of cargo space in the process.<ref name="aastad">Aastad, Andy. [http://rotormagazine.org/Portals/24/pdf/winter2006_7/32.pdf "The Introduction to the JetRanger".] ''Rotor Magazine''. Helicopter Association International. Winter 2006-2007. Accessed on 29 April 2008.</ref> The redesigned aircraft was designated as the ''Model 206A'', and Bell President Edwin J. Ducayet named it the ''JetRanger'' denoting an evolution from the popular [[Bell 47|Model 47J ''Ranger'']].

[[File:Oh4a002.jpg|thumb|right|YOH-4A LOH у польоті]]
In 1967, the Army reopened the LOH competition for bids because Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division could not meet the contractual production demands.<ref name="Holley_p8">Holley and Sloniker, p. 8.</ref> Bell resubmitted for the program using the Bell 206A.<ref name="LOH-1"/> Fairchild-Hiller failed to resubmit their bid with the YOH-5A, which they had successfully marketed as the [[Fairchild Hiller FH-1100|FH-1100]].<ref name="Hirschberg">Hirschberg, Michael J. and David K. Daley. [http://www.vtol.org/History.htm#_Toc486998807 "Bell".] ''US and Russian Helicopter Development In the 20th Century''. [http://www.vtol.org/ American Helicopter Society]. 7 July 2000. Accessed on 20 April 2007. {{wayback|url=http://www.vtol.org/History.htm#_Toc486998807 |date=20110831070832 }}</ref> In the end, Bell underbid Hughes to win the contract and the Bell 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 [[Kiowa|Native American tribe]].<ref name="Holley_p90">Holley and Sloniker, p. 90.</ref>

===Передовий розвідувальний вертоліт===
In the 1970s, the U.S. Army began evaluating the need to improve the capabilities of their scout aircraft. Anticipating the [[AH-64 Apache|AH-64A]]'s replacement of the venerable [[AH-1 Cobra|AH-1]], the Army began shopping the idea of an Aerial Scout Program to stimulate the development of advanced technological capabilities for night vision and precision navigation equipment. The stated goals of the program included prototypes that would: <blockquote>"...possess an extended target acquisition range capability by means of a long-range stabilized optical subsystem for the observer, improved position location through use of a computerized navigation system, improved survivability by reducing aural, visual, radar, and infrared signatures, and an improved flight performance capability derived from a larger engine to provide compatibility with attack helicopters".<ref name="cmh-1972-05">{{cite book |last =Cocke |first =Karl E. |chapterurl= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1972/ch05.htm |chapter=V Force Development |url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1972/index.htm#Contents |title = Department of the Army Historical Summary |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]]|year= 1972 |doi = |accessdate= 17 January 2014}}</ref></blockquote>

The Army created a special task force at [[Fort Knox]] to develop the system requirements in early March 1974,<ref name="cmh-1974-11">{{cite book |chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1974/ch11.htm| chapter = XI Research, Development and Acquisition| url = http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1974/index.htm#Contents| title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1974 |accessdate=2007-04-14 |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]]| first = Karl E. | last = Cocke| year = 1978}}</ref> and by 1975 the task force had devised the requirements for an Advanced Scout Helicopter (ASH) program. The requirements were formulated around an aircraft capable of performing in day, night, and adverse weather, and compatible with all the advanced weapons systems planned for development and fielding into the 1980s. The program was approved by the System Acquisition Review Council and the Army prepared for competitive development to begin the next year.<ref name="cmh-1975-10">{{cite book |chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1975/ch10.htm|chapter = X Research, Development and Acquisition| title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1975 |accessdate=2007-04-14 |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] | url = http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1975/index.htm#Contents| first = Karl E. | last = Cocke| year = 1978}}</ref> However, as the Army tried to get the program off the ground, Congress declined to provide funding for it in the fiscal year 1977 budget and the ASH Project Manager's Office (PM-ASH) was closed on 30 September 1976.<ref name="cmh-1976-10">{{cite book|chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1976/ch10.htm | chapter = Research, Development and Acquisition| title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1976 |accessdate=2007-04-14 |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] | first = Karl E. | last = Cocke| year = 1977}}</ref>

While no development occurred during the next few years, the program survived as a requirement without funding. On 30 November 1979, the decision was made to defer development of an advanced scout helicopter in favor of pursuing modification of existing airframes in the inventory as a near term scout helicopter (NTSH) option. The development of a mast-mounted sight would be the primary focus to improve the aircraft's ability to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition missions while remaining hidden behind trees and terrain. Both the UH-1 and the OH-58 were evaluated as NTSH candidates, but the UH-1 was dropped from consideration due to its larger size and ease of detection. The OH-58, on the other hand demonstrated a dramatic reduction in detectability with a Mast-Mounted Sight (MMS).

On 10 July 1980, the Army decided that the NTSH would be a competitive modification program based on developments in the commercial helicopter industry, particularly Hughes Helicopters development of the [[MD Helicopters MD 500|Hughes 500D]] which provided significant improvements over the OH-6.<ref name="cmh-1980-11">{{cite book|chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1980/ch11.htm|chapter = 11. Research Development and Acquisition | title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1980 |url=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1980/index.htm#Contents |accessdate=2007-04-14 |publisher=United States Army Center of Military History| year = 1983}}</ref>

===Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP)===
The Army's decision to acquire the NTSH resulted in the "Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP)". Both Bell Helicopter and Hughes Helicopters redesigned their scout aircraft to compete for the contract. Bell offered a more robust version of the OH-58 in their model 406 aircraft,<ref name="tri-2">{{cite web |url=http://tri.army.mil/LC/CS/csa/aahist3.htm#AHIP |title=Historic U.S. Army Helicopters |accessdate=2007-04-14 |archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070224030112/http://tri.army.mil/LC/CS/csa/aahist3.htm#AHIP <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate= 2007-02-24}}</ref> and Hughes offered an upgraded version of the OH-6. On 21 September 1981, Bell Helicopter Textron was awarded a development contract.<ref>{{cite journal|author=COL Robert S. Fairweather Jr. and MAJ Grant Fossum |title=The AHIP: Field Artillery Aerial Observer Platform of the Future |publisher=Field Artillery Magazine |date=July–August 1982 |url=http://sill-www.army.mil/famag/1982/JUL_AUG_1982/JUL_AUG_1982_PAGES_14_17.pdf |format=PDF |deadurl=unfit |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5JRlXvP0o |archivedate=October 7, 2006 }}</ref><ref name="cmh-1981-11">{{cite book |chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1981/ch11.htm |chapter= Research Development and Acquisition |url= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1981/index.htm#Contents |year= 1988|title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1981 |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]] |accessdate=2007-04-14}}</ref> The first prototype flew on 6 October 1983,<ref name="Jackson-1"/> and the aircraft entered service in 1985 as the OH-58D.<ref name="cmh-1986-04">{{cite book |chapter=Modernizing and Equipping the Army |chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1986/ch04.htm |title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1986 |url= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1986/index.htm#Contents |year= 1995 |first= Terrence J. |last= Gough |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]]}}</ref>

Initially intended for 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.<ref name="cmh-1986-04"/> In 1988, the Army had planned to discontinue the OH-58D and focus on the LHX; however, Congress approved $138 million to expand the program, calling for the AHIP to operate with the Apache as a hunter/killer team; the AHIP would locate targets and the Apache would destroy them in a throwback to the traditional OH-58/AH-1 relationship.<ref name="cmh-1988-04">{{cite book |chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1988/ch04.htm |chapter= Modernizing and Equipping the Army |url= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1988/index.htm#Contents |title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1988 |publisher=United States Army Center of Military History |year= 1993 |first= William Joe |last= Webb}}</ref>

[[File:Oh58d.jpg|thumb|An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior takes off armed with an [[AGM-114 Hellfire]] and 7 [[Hydra 70]] rockets.]]
The Secretary of the Army directed instead that the aircraft's armament systems be upgraded, based on experience with Task Force 118's performance operating armed OH-58D helicopters in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Prime Chance, and that the aircraft be used primarily for scouting and armed reconnaissance.<ref name="cmh-1989-11">{{cite book |chapter= 11. Modernization: Research, Development and Acquisition |chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1989/CH11.htm |title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1989 |url= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1989/Index.htm#TOC |publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History]] |year= 1998 |first= Vincent H. |last= Demma}}</ref> The armed aircraft would be known as the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, denoting its new armed configuration. Beginning with the production of the 202nd aircraft (s/n 89-0112) in May 1991, all remaining OH-58D aircraft were produced in the Kiowa Warrior configuration. In January 1992, Bell Helicopter received its first retrofit contract to convert all remaining OH-58D Kiowa helicopters to the Kiowa Warrior configuration.<ref name="Jackson-1"/>

== Design ==

=== Mast mounted sight ===
The OH-58D introduced the most distinctive feature of the Kiowa family — the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS), which resembles a [[beach ball]] perched above the rotor system. The MMS by [[Ball Aerospace & Technologies]] has a gyro-stabilized platform containing a TeleVision System (TVS), a [[Thermographic camera|Thermal Imaging System]] (TIS), and a [[Laser rangefinder|Laser Range Finder]]/[[Laser designator|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.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}

The Mast Mounted Sight system was developed by the McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Huntington Beach, CA. Production took place primarily at facilities in Monrovia, CA. As a result of a merger with Boeing, and a later sale of the business unit, the program is currently owned and managed by DRS Technologies, with engineering support based in Cypress, CA, and production support taking place in Melbourne, FL.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drs.com/Products/RSTA/MMS.aspx |title=DRS Technologies, Inc. - Mast-Mounted Sight (MMS) |publisher=Drs.com |date= |accessdate=2013-02-11}}</ref>

=== Wire Strike Protection System ===
One distinctive feature of operational OH-58s are the knife-like extensions above and below the cockpit which are part of the passive [[Wire Strike Protection System]]. It can protect 90% of the frontal area of the helicopter from wire strikes that can be encountered at low altitudes by directing wires to the upper or lower blades before they can entangle the rotor blade or landing skids. The OH-58 was the first helicopter to test this system, after which the system was adopted by the US Army for the OH-58 and most of their other helicopters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.ca/Aerostructures.html|title=Bristol Aerospace}}</ref>

==Operational history==
Major General John Norton, commanding general of the Army Aviation Materiel Command (AMCOM),<ref>[http://www.quad-a.org/Hall_of_Fame/personnel/norton.htm "Lieutenant General John Norton"]. ''Army Aviation Hall of Fame''. Army Aviation Association of America. Accessed on 22 October 2008. {{wayback|url=http://www.quad-a.org/Hall_of_Fame/personnel/norton.htm |date=20090814215925 }}</ref> received the first OH-58A Kiowa at a ceremony at Bell Helicopter's Fort Worth plant in May 1969. Two months later, on 17 August 1969, the first production ''OH-58A Kiowa'' helicopters were arriving in Vietnam,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tri.army.mil/LC/CS/csa/aahist2.htm |title=Historic U.S. Army Helicopters |date=October 5, 2005 |deadurl=unfit |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5JQMf7m5r |archivedate=October 6, 2006 }}</ref> accompanied by a New Equipment Training Team (NETT) from the Army and Bell Helicopters.<ref>[http://www.flyarmy.org/panel/battle/69062700.HTM "Bell Helicopter News information"]. Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association. Accessed on 22 October 2008.</ref> Although the Kiowa production contract replaced the LOH contract with Hughes, the OH-58A did not automatically replace the OH-6A in operation. Subsequently, the Kiowa and the Cayuse would continue operating in the same theater until the end of the war.

===Vietnam War===
On 27 March 1970, an OH-58A Kiowa (s/n 68-16785) was shot down over Vietnam, one of the first OH-58A losses of the war. The pilot, [[Warrant Officer (United States)|Warrant Officer]] Ralph Quick, Jr., was flying [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Joseph Benoski, Jr. as an artillery spotter. After completing a battle damage assessment for a previous fire mission, the aircraft was damaged by .51 cal (13&nbsp;mm) machine gun fire and crashed, killing both crew members. Approximately 45 OH-58A helicopters were destroyed during the [[Vietnam War]] due to combat losses and accidents.<ref>Roush, Gary. [http://www.vhpa.org/heliloss.pdf "Helicopter Losses During the Vietnam War"]. VHPA.org. Accessed on 4 January 2009.</ref> One of the last combat losses was of an OH-58A (s/n 68-16888) from [[17th Cavalry Regiment (United States)#Units|A Troop, 3-17th Cavalry]], flown by [[First Lieutenant]] Thomas Knuckey. On 27 May 1971, Lieutenant Knuckey was also flying a battle damage assessment mission when his aircraft came under machine gun fire and exploded. Knuckey and his observer, [[Sergeant]] Philip Taylor, both died in the explosion.<ref>[http://www.armyaircrews.com/kiowa_nam.html "Kiowa crewmember line of duty deaths"]. armyaircrews.com. Accessed on 4 January 2009.</ref>

===Operation Prime Chance===
In early 1988, it was decided that armed OH-58D (AHIP) helicopters from the 118th Aviation Task Force would be phased in to replace the SEABAT ([[MH-6 Little Bird|AH-6/MH-6]]) teams of [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment|Task Force 160th]] to carry out [[Operation Prime Chance]], the escort of oil tankers during the [[Iran–Iraq War]]. On 24 February 1988, two AHIP helicopters reported to the Mobile Sea Base Wimbrown VII, and the helicopter team ("SEABAT" team after their callsign) stationed on the barge returned to the United States. For the next few months, the AHIP helicopters on the Wimbrown VII shared patrol duties with the SEABAT team on the Hercules. Coordination was difficult, but despite frequent requests from TF-160, the SEABAT team on the Hercules was not replaced by an AHIP detachment until June 1988.<ref name="160-1">{{cite web|url=http://www.nightstalkers.com/history/4.html |title=Operations EARNEST WILL and PRIME CHANCE |accessdate=2007-03-25 |work=Night Stalker History }}{{dead link|date=August 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> The OH-58D helicopter crews involved in the operation received deck landing and underwater survival training from the Navy.

In November 1988, the number of OH-58D helicopters that supported Task Force 118 was reduced. However, the aircraft continued to operate from the Navy's Mobile Sea Base ''Hercules'', the frigate ''[[USS Underwood (FFG-36)|Underwood]]'', and the destroyer ''[[USS Conolly (DD-979)|Conolly]]''. OH-58D operations primarily entailed reconnaissance flights at night, and depending on maintenance requirements and ship scheduling, Army helicopters usually rotated from the mobile sea base and other combatant ships to a land base every seven to fourteen days. On 18 September 1989, an OH-58D crashed during night gunnery practice and sank, but with no loss of personnel. When the Mobile Sea Base Hercules was deactivated in September 1989, all but five OH-58D helicopters redeployed to the continental United States.<ref name="cmh-1">{{cite book|chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1989/CH6.htm|chapter = 6. Operations| title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1989 | url = http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1989/Index.htm#TOC |publisher=[[United States Army Center of Military History]]| year = 1998| first = Vincent H. | last = Demma|accessdate=2007-03-25| id = CMH Pub 101-21}}</ref>

===RAID===
In 1989, Congress mandated that the [[Army National Guard]] would take part 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, 24 states conducted more than 1,200 aerial counterdrug reconnaissance and interdiction missions, conducting many of these missions at night.<ref>{{cite book|chapterurl=http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1994/ch05.htm | chapter = 5. Reserve Forces |url = http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1994/index.htm#contents| first = L. Martin| last = Kaplan |year = 2000|title=Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1994| publisher = [[United States Army Center of Military History]]| id = CMH Pub 101-25}}</ref> Eventually, the program was expanded to cover 32 states and consisting of 116 aircraft, including dedicated training aircraft at the Western Army Aviation Training Site (WAATS) in [[Marana, Arizona]].<ref name="raid-rw">{{cite web |url=http://www.webcitation.org/5K0AkcD8T |title=Homeland Defense: Fighting Homeland Wars |author=Doug Nelms |date=1 November 2002 |publisher=Rotor & Wing via aviationtoday.com |accessdate=2 October 2016}}</ref>

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 [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] that is wholly contained within the borders of the [[United States]].<ref name="raid-rw"/>

===Operation Just Cause and action in the 1990s===
During [[United States invasion of Panama|Operation Just Cause]] in 1989, a team consisting of an OH-58 and an AH-1 were part of the Aviation Task Force during the securing of [[Fort Amador]] in [[Panama]]. The OH-58 was fired upon by [[Military of Panama|Panama Defense Force]] soldiers and crashed 100 yards (91&nbsp;m) away, in the [[Bay of Panama]]. The pilot was rescued but the co-pilot died.<ref>{{cite book| url = http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Just%20Cause/JustCause.htm | title = Operation Just Cause: The Incursion into Panama| publisher =United States Army Center of Military History| accessdate = 1 September 2006| id = CMH Pub No. 70-85-1}}</ref>

On 17 December 1994, Army [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Army|Chief Warrant Officer]]s (CWO) David Hilemon and Bobby Hall left Camp Page, [[South Korea]] on a routine training mission along the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone|Demilitarized Zone]] (DMZ). Their flight was intended to be to a point known as Checkpoint 84, south of the DMZ "no-fly zone", but the OH-58C Kiowa strayed nearly four miles (6.4&nbsp;km) into the Kangwon Province, inside [[North Korea]]n airspace, due to errors in navigating the snow-covered, rugged terrain. The helicopter was shot down by North Korean troops and CWO Hilemon was killed. CWO Hall was held captive and the North Korean government insisted that the crew had been spying. Five days of negotiations resulted in the North Koreans turning over Hilemon's body to U.S. authorities. The negotiations failed to secure Hall's immediate release. After 13 days in captivity, Hall was freed on 30 December, uninjured.<ref>Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). [http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=317 "OH-58C Helicopter Down in North Korea"]. Press Release. United States Department of Defense. 19 December 1994. Accessed 30 December 2007.</ref><ref>Miles, Donna. "Drama Along the DMZ". ''Soldiers''. 4–5 February 1995. Accessed on 3 November 2006. [http://web.archive.org/web/20060207143301/http://www.army.mil/soldiers/feb95/p4.html (archive copy)].</ref>

=== Afghanistan and Iraq ===
[[File:US Navy 030808-N-5613J-010 Army OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C., are shrink wrapped.jpg|thumb|right|[[Shrink wrap]]ped OH-58 Kiowa helicopters to be shipped to Iraq.]]

The United States Army has employed the OH-58D during [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] in [[Iraq]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in [[Afghanistan]].<ref name="army-technology.com">{{cite web|url= http://www.army-technology.com/projects/kiowa/ |title= OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Reconnaissance / Attack Helicopter, USA |date=2007-11-27 |publisher= SPG Media Limited |accessdate= 2008-08-04| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20080704130109/http://www.army-technology.com/projects/kiowa/| archivedate= 4 July 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref>Sayah, Reza with Barbara Starr and Jamie McIntyre. [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/25/pakistan.helicopters/index.html "U.S., Pakistan exchange shots at volatile border"]. CNN.com, 25 September 2008. Accessed on 15 January 2009.</ref> Due to combat and accidents, over 35 airframes have been lost, with 35 pilots killed.<ref>Hastings, Michael, "America's New Cavalry", ''[[Men's Journal]]'', September 2010, p. 128.</ref> Their presence has also been anecdotally credited with saving lives, having been used to rescue wounded despite their small size.<ref>Thackary, Lorna. [http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/injured-red-lodge-soldier-recounts-blast-dramatic-rescue-in-afghanistan/article_0f02b1da-4a8c-11df-a274-001cc4c03286.html "Injured Red Lodge soldier recounts blast, dramatic rescue in Afghanistan"]. BillingsGazette.com, 18 April 2010. Accessed on 31 May 2013.</ref> In Iraq, OH-58Ds flew 72 hours per month, while in Afghanistan, they flew 80 hours per month.<ref name="hours">[http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20130514.aspx Another Old Warrior Too Good To Replace] - Strategypage.com, May 14, 2013</ref> In 2013, Bell stated that the OH-58 had 820,000 combat hours, and 90% mission capable rate.<ref>"[http://investor.textron.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=110047&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1806238 Bell Helicopter Provides OH-58 Kiowa Warrior Program Update]" ''Bell/Textron'', April 12, 2013. Accessed: December 8, 2013.</ref>

===Future===
The first attempt to replace the OH-58 was the [[RAH-66 Comanche]] of the [[Light Helicopter Experimental]] program, which was cancelled in 2004. Airframe age and losses led to the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program to procure a new aircraft, the [[Bell ARH-70]], which was later cancelled in 2008 due to cost overruns. The third replacement effort for the OH-58 was the [[Armed Aerial Scout]] program.<ref name="aas forward">[http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/01/us-army-helicopter-idUSBRE8B002T20121201?feedType=RSS&feedName=everything&virtualBrandChannel=11563 U.S. Army officials said to back new scout helicopter] - Reuters.com, November 30, 2012</ref> Due to uncertainty in the AAS program and fiscal restraints, planned retirement of the OH-58F Kiowa has been extended from 2025 to 2036.<ref name=AW_slep>[http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_05_10_2013_p0-577834.xml&p=1 "U.S. Army Confirms AAS Will Be New Start Or OH-58 SLEP"]. Aviationweek.com, 10 May 2013.</ref> The Kiowa's role as a scout aircraft is being supplemented by tactical [[unmanned aerial vehicles]], the two platforms often act in conjunction to provide reconnaissance to expose crews to less risk. The OH-58F has the ability to control UAVs directly to safely perform scout missions.<ref name="hours"/> In 2011, the Kiowa was scheduled to be replaced by the light version of the [[Future Vertical Lift]] aircraft in the 2030s.<ref>[http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/superfast-helicopters/ Superfast Helicopters] - Defensemedianetwork.com, 25 October 2011</ref>

As of December 2013, the U.S. Army has 338 Kiowas in its active-duty force and 30 in the [[Army National Guard]]. The Army is considering retiring the Kiowa as part of a wider restructuring to cut costs and reduce the various types of helicopters in service. The [[Analysis of Alternatives]] (AoA) for the AAS program found that the Kiowa operating alongside [[RQ-7 Shadow]] UAVs was the most affordable and capable solution; it also said that the [[AH-64 Apache|AH-64E Apache Guardian]] was the most capable "immediate" solution for the scout helicopter role. It is proposed that all OH-58s be divested and all National Guard and Army Reserve Apaches would be transferred to the active Army to serve as scouts. The Apache costs 50 percent more than the Kiowa to operate and requires more maintenance; studies showed that if the Apache had been used in place of the Kiowa in Iraq and Afghanistan, total operating costs would have been $4 billion greater, but would save $1 billion per year in operating and sustainment costs. [[UH-60 Black Hawk]]s would be transferred from the active fleet to reserve and Guard units. The proposal aims to retire older helicopters to save money and retain those with the greatest capabilities.<ref>[http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20131209/NEWS04/312090006/ Army Plans To Scrap Kiowa Helo Fleet] - MarineCorpstimes.com, 9 December 2013</ref> The 2010 AoA that found that Apaches teamed with UAVs was the optimal choice; with a reduced service size a total of 698 Apaches could fill the role. Funds for Apache upgrades would be released from the Kiowa's termination.<ref>[http://www.army.mil/article/118247/Army_aviation_flying_smarter_into_fiscal_squeeze/ Army aviation flying smarter into fiscal squeeze] - Army.mil, 14 January 2014</ref> Media expects the OH-58s to go to foreign military rather than civilian operators due higher operating cost.<ref name=pat>{{cite news |first=Pat |last=Host |url=http://accessintelligence.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vrw15/i452/p38 |title=Army's aviation restructuring not to affect civil helicopter market |pages=38–42 |work=Rotor & Wing |date=April 2015 |accessdate=12 April 2015 }}</ref>

The Army placed 26 out of 335 OH-58Ds in non-flyable storage during 2014. In anticipation of divesting the Kiowa, the Army is looking to see if other military branches, government agencies, and foreign customers would be interested in buying the aircraft. The Kiowas are considered in a good price range for foreign countries with limited resources. Bell has not yet agreed to support the helicopters if sold overseas. In November 2014 Croatia sent a letter of intent for the acquisition of 16 OH-58Ds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/jutarnji-doznaje--ministar-kotromanovic-pisao-pentagonu-hrvatska-trazi-od-sad-a-16-borbenih-letjelica-/1236155/|title=KOTROMANOVIĆ PISAO PENTAGONU Hrvatska traži od SAD-a 16 borbenih letjelica|work=jutarnji.hr|accessdate=2 October 2016}}</ref><ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-begins-grounding-kiowas-seeks-buyers-399003/ US Army begins grounding Kiowas, seeks buyers] - Flightglobal.com, 7 May 2014</ref> {{asof|2015}}, the Army had divested 33 OH-58Ds.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/downsized-us-army-to-pass-on-533-shunned-oh-58-th-67-414435/ Downsized US Army to pass on 533 shunned OH-58, TH-67 helicopters] ([http://web.archive.org/web/20150717124813/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/downsized-us-army-to-pass-on-533-shunned-oh-58-th-67-414435/ archive])</ref> By January 2016, the Army had divested all but two OH-58D squadrons, with the aircraft to finish divestiture before the end of the year.<ref>[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-forging-ahead-with-oh-58d-and-th-67-retireme-420836/ US Army forging ahead with OH-58D and TH-67 retirements] - Flightglobal.com, 14 January 2016</ref> In April 2016, two Kiowa squadrons with a combined 60 helicopters are in service.<ref name="60 Kiowa">{{cite news|last1=Brooks|first1=Drew|title=Army's Kiowa helicopters to fly in last formation|url=http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/army-s-kiowa-helicopters-to-fly-in-last-formation/article_025c791e-9611-5ddb-9050-e8d028975401.html|accessdate=2 June 2016|work=The Fayetteville Observer|date=12 April 2016|quote=Nearly three years after defense officials first proposed eliminating the small aircraft from the Army's aviation, all but two squadrons - each flying 30 helicopters - have bid adieu to the Kiowa.}}</ref> In June 2016, members of 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, [[82nd Aviation Regiment (United States)|82nd Combat Aviation Brigade]], arrived in South Korea as part of the Kiowa's last deployment in U.S. Army service; the helicopters will be replaced upon the unit's return to Fort Bragg in nine months.<ref>[http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2016/06/26/final-deployment-underway-armys-kiowa-helicopters/86347834/ Final deployment is underway for Army's Kiowa helicopters] - Armytimes.com, 26 June 2016</ref>

As a consequence of the 2013 Aviation Restructure Initiative, some 340 divested U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowas were made available through Excess Defense Article and [[foreign military sales]] (FMS) programs. In 2016, Croatia and Tunisia became the first nations to request the helicopters, ordering 16 and 24 respectively.<ref name=FMS_sales>[http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-06-06/croatia-tunisia-first-receive-us-kiowa-warriors "Croatia, Tunisia First To Receive U.S. Kiowa Warriors"]. Ainonline.com, 6 June 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/tunisia-oh-58d-kiowa-warrior-aircraft-equipment-and-support |title=Tunisia-OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Aircraft Equipment and Support |publisher= dsca.mil |date=3 May 2016 |accessdate=30 June 2016}}</ref> Croatia received the first batch of 5 OH-58Ds at the [[Zadar Airport|Zadar-Zemunik air base]] on 30 June 2016.<ref name="CroatiaFirstDeliveryFlightGlobal">{{cite web|last1=Salinger|first1=Igor|title=First ex-US Army OH-58Ds delivered to Croatia|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/first-ex-us-army-oh-58ds-delivered-to-croatia-428121/|website=FlightGlobal|accessdate=2 August 2016|date=2 August 2016}}</ref><ref name="CroatiaFirstDeliveryIHS">{{cite web|last1=Tabak|first1=Igor|title=Croatia receives first OH-58 Kiowa helicopters|url=http://www.janes.com/article/62690/croatia-receives-first-oh-58-kiowa-helicopters|website=IHS Jane's 360|accessdate=2 August 2016|date=2 August 2016}}</ref>




Версія за 15:11, 11 жовтня 2016

Характеристики
Характеристики


Характеристики

Розробка

On 14 October 1960, the United States Navy asked 25 helicopter manufacturers on behalf of the Army for proposals for a Light Observation Helicopter (LOH). Bell Helicopter entered the competition along with 12 other manufacturers, including Hiller Aircraft and Hughes Tool Co., Aircraft Division.[1] Bell submitted the D-250 design, which would be designated as the YHO-4.[2] On 19 May 1961, Bell and Hiller were announced as winners of the design competition.[3][4]

Light Observation Helicopter (LOH)

Bell developed the D-250 design into the Model 206 aircraft, redesignated as YOH-4A in 1962, and produced five prototype aircraft for the Army's test and evaluation phase. The first prototype flew on 8 December 1962.[5] The YOH-4A also became known as the Ugly Duckling in comparison to the other contending aircraft.[5] Following a flyoff of the Bell, Hughes and Fairchild-Hiller prototypes, the Hughes OH-6 Cayuse was selected in May 1965.[6]

When the YOH-4A was rejected by the Army, Bell went about solving the problem of marketing the aircraft. In addition to the image problem, the helicopter lacked cargo space and only provided cramped quarters for the planned three passengers in the back. The solution was a fuselage redesigned to be more sleek and aesthetic, adding 16 cubic feet (0.45 m3) of cargo space in the process.[7] The redesigned aircraft was designated as the Model 206A, and Bell President Edwin J. Ducayet named it the JetRanger denoting an evolution from the popular Model 47J Ranger.

YOH-4A LOH у польоті

In 1967, the Army reopened the LOH competition for bids because Hughes Tool Co. Aircraft Division could not meet the contractual production demands.[8] Bell resubmitted for the program using the Bell 206A.[2] Fairchild-Hiller failed to resubmit their bid with the YOH-5A, which they had successfully marketed as the FH-1100.[9] In the end, Bell underbid Hughes to win the contract and the Bell 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.[10]

Передовий розвідувальний вертоліт

In the 1970s, the U.S. Army began evaluating the need to improve the capabilities of their scout aircraft. Anticipating the AH-64A's replacement of the venerable AH-1, the Army began shopping the idea of an Aerial Scout Program to stimulate the development of advanced technological capabilities for night vision and precision navigation equipment. The stated goals of the program included prototypes that would:

"...possess an extended target acquisition range capability by means of a long-range stabilized optical subsystem for the observer, improved position location through use of a computerized navigation system, improved survivability by reducing aural, visual, radar, and infrared signatures, and an improved flight performance capability derived from a larger engine to provide compatibility with attack helicopters".[11]

The Army created a special task force at Fort Knox to develop the system requirements in early March 1974,[12] and by 1975 the task force had devised the requirements for an Advanced Scout Helicopter (ASH) program. The requirements were formulated around an aircraft capable of performing in day, night, and adverse weather, and compatible with all the advanced weapons systems planned for development and fielding into the 1980s. The program was approved by the System Acquisition Review Council and the Army prepared for competitive development to begin the next year.[13] However, as the Army tried to get the program off the ground, Congress declined to provide funding for it in the fiscal year 1977 budget and the ASH Project Manager's Office (PM-ASH) was closed on 30 September 1976.[14]

While no development occurred during the next few years, the program survived as a requirement without funding. On 30 November 1979, the decision was made to defer development of an advanced scout helicopter in favor of pursuing modification of existing airframes in the inventory as a near term scout helicopter (NTSH) option. The development of a mast-mounted sight would be the primary focus to improve the aircraft's ability to perform reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition missions while remaining hidden behind trees and terrain. Both the UH-1 and the OH-58 were evaluated as NTSH candidates, but the UH-1 was dropped from consideration due to its larger size and ease of detection. The OH-58, on the other hand demonstrated a dramatic reduction in detectability with a Mast-Mounted Sight (MMS).

On 10 July 1980, the Army decided that the NTSH would be a competitive modification program based on developments in the commercial helicopter industry, particularly Hughes Helicopters development of the Hughes 500D which provided significant improvements over the OH-6.[15]

Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP)

The Army's decision to acquire the NTSH resulted in the "Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP)". Both Bell Helicopter and Hughes Helicopters redesigned their scout aircraft to compete for the contract. Bell offered a more robust version of the OH-58 in their model 406 aircraft,[16] and Hughes offered an upgraded version of the OH-6. On 21 September 1981, Bell Helicopter Textron was awarded a development contract.[17][18] The first prototype flew on 6 October 1983,[19] and the aircraft entered service in 1985 as the OH-58D.[20]

Initially intended for 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.[20] In 1988, the Army had planned to discontinue the OH-58D and focus on the LHX; however, Congress approved $138 million to expand the program, calling for the AHIP to operate with the Apache as a hunter/killer team; the AHIP would locate targets and the Apache would destroy them in a throwback to the traditional OH-58/AH-1 relationship.[21]

An OH-58D Kiowa Warrior takes off armed with an AGM-114 Hellfire and 7 Hydra 70 rockets.

The Secretary of the Army directed instead that the aircraft's armament systems be upgraded, based on experience with Task Force 118's performance operating armed OH-58D helicopters in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Prime Chance, and that the aircraft be used primarily for scouting and armed reconnaissance.[22] The armed aircraft would be known as the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, denoting its new armed configuration. Beginning with the production of the 202nd aircraft (s/n 89-0112) in May 1991, all remaining OH-58D aircraft were produced in the Kiowa Warrior configuration. In January 1992, Bell Helicopter received its first retrofit contract to convert all remaining OH-58D Kiowa helicopters to the Kiowa Warrior configuration.[19]

Design

Mast mounted sight

The OH-58D introduced the most distinctive feature of the Kiowa family — the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS), which resembles a beach ball perched above the rotor system. The MMS by Ball Aerospace & Technologies has 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.[джерело?]

The Mast Mounted Sight system was developed by the McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Huntington Beach, CA. Production took place primarily at facilities in Monrovia, CA. As a result of a merger with Boeing, and a later sale of the business unit, the program is currently owned and managed by DRS Technologies, with engineering support based in Cypress, CA, and production support taking place in Melbourne, FL.[23]

Wire Strike Protection System

One distinctive feature of operational OH-58s are the knife-like extensions above and below the cockpit which are part of the passive Wire Strike Protection System. It can protect 90% of the frontal area of the helicopter from wire strikes that can be encountered at low altitudes by directing wires to the upper or lower blades before they can entangle the rotor blade or landing skids. The OH-58 was the first helicopter to test this system, after which the system was adopted by the US Army for the OH-58 and most of their other helicopters.[24]

Operational history

Major General John Norton, commanding general of the Army Aviation Materiel Command (AMCOM),[25] received the first OH-58A Kiowa at a ceremony at Bell Helicopter's Fort Worth plant in May 1969. Two months later, on 17 August 1969, the first production OH-58A Kiowa helicopters were arriving in Vietnam,[26] accompanied by a New Equipment Training Team (NETT) from the Army and Bell Helicopters.[27] Although the Kiowa production contract replaced the LOH contract with Hughes, the OH-58A did not automatically replace the OH-6A in operation. Subsequently, the Kiowa and the Cayuse would continue operating in the same theater until the end of the war.

Vietnam War

On 27 March 1970, an OH-58A Kiowa (s/n 68-16785) was shot down over Vietnam, one of the first OH-58A losses of the war. The pilot, Warrant Officer Ralph Quick, Jr., was flying Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Benoski, Jr. as an artillery spotter. After completing a battle damage assessment for a previous fire mission, the aircraft was damaged by .51 cal (13 mm) machine gun fire and crashed, killing both crew members. Approximately 45 OH-58A helicopters were destroyed during the Vietnam War due to combat losses and accidents.[28] One of the last combat losses was of an OH-58A (s/n 68-16888) from A Troop, 3-17th Cavalry, flown by First Lieutenant Thomas Knuckey. On 27 May 1971, Lieutenant Knuckey was also flying a battle damage assessment mission when his aircraft came under machine gun fire and exploded. Knuckey and his observer, Sergeant Philip Taylor, both died in the explosion.[29]

Operation Prime Chance

In early 1988, it was decided that armed OH-58D (AHIP) helicopters from the 118th Aviation Task Force would be phased in to replace the SEABAT (AH-6/MH-6) teams of Task Force 160th to carry out Operation Prime Chance, the escort of oil tankers during the Iran–Iraq War. On 24 February 1988, two AHIP helicopters reported to the Mobile Sea Base Wimbrown VII, and the helicopter team ("SEABAT" team after their callsign) stationed on the barge returned to the United States. For the next few months, the AHIP helicopters on the Wimbrown VII shared patrol duties with the SEABAT team on the Hercules. Coordination was difficult, but despite frequent requests from TF-160, the SEABAT team on the Hercules was not replaced by an AHIP detachment until June 1988.[30] The OH-58D helicopter crews involved in the operation received deck landing and underwater survival training from the Navy.

In November 1988, the number of OH-58D helicopters that supported Task Force 118 was reduced. However, the aircraft continued to operate from the Navy's Mobile Sea Base Hercules, the frigate Underwood, and the destroyer Conolly. OH-58D operations primarily entailed reconnaissance flights at night, and depending on maintenance requirements and ship scheduling, Army helicopters usually rotated from the mobile sea base and other combatant ships to a land base every seven to fourteen days. On 18 September 1989, an OH-58D crashed during night gunnery practice and sank, but with no loss of personnel. When the Mobile Sea Base Hercules was deactivated in September 1989, all but five OH-58D helicopters redeployed to the continental United States.[31]

RAID

In 1989, Congress mandated that the Army National Guard would take part 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, 24 states conducted more than 1,200 aerial counterdrug reconnaissance and interdiction missions, conducting many of these missions at night.[32] Eventually, the program was expanded to cover 32 states and consisting of 116 aircraft, including dedicated training aircraft at the Western Army Aviation Training Site (WAATS) in Marana, Arizona.[33]

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.[33]

Operation Just Cause and action in the 1990s

During Operation Just Cause in 1989, a team consisting of an OH-58 and an AH-1 were part of the Aviation Task Force during the securing of Fort Amador in Panama. The OH-58 was fired upon by Panama Defense Force soldiers and crashed 100 yards (91 m) away, in the Bay of Panama. The pilot was rescued but the co-pilot died.[34]

On 17 December 1994, Army Chief Warrant Officers (CWO) David Hilemon and Bobby Hall left Camp Page, South Korea on a routine training mission along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Their flight was intended to be to a point known as Checkpoint 84, south of the DMZ "no-fly zone", but the OH-58C Kiowa strayed nearly four miles (6.4 km) into the Kangwon Province, inside North Korean airspace, due to errors in navigating the snow-covered, rugged terrain. The helicopter was shot down by North Korean troops and CWO Hilemon was killed. CWO Hall was held captive and the North Korean government insisted that the crew had been spying. Five days of negotiations resulted in the North Koreans turning over Hilemon's body to U.S. authorities. The negotiations failed to secure Hall's immediate release. After 13 days in captivity, Hall was freed on 30 December, uninjured.[35][36]

Afghanistan and Iraq

Shrink wrapped OH-58 Kiowa helicopters to be shipped to Iraq.

The United States Army has employed the OH-58D during Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.[37][38] Due to combat and accidents, over 35 airframes have been lost, with 35 pilots killed.[39] Their presence has also been anecdotally credited with saving lives, having been used to rescue wounded despite their small size.[40] In Iraq, OH-58Ds flew 72 hours per month, while in Afghanistan, they flew 80 hours per month.[41] In 2013, Bell stated that the OH-58 had 820,000 combat hours, and 90% mission capable rate.[42]

Future

The first attempt to replace the OH-58 was the RAH-66 Comanche of the Light Helicopter Experimental program, which was cancelled in 2004. Airframe age and losses led to the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program to procure a new aircraft, the Bell ARH-70, which was later cancelled in 2008 due to cost overruns. The third replacement effort for the OH-58 was the Armed Aerial Scout program.[43] Due to uncertainty in the AAS program and fiscal restraints, planned retirement of the OH-58F Kiowa has been extended from 2025 to 2036.[44] The Kiowa's role as a scout aircraft is being supplemented by tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, the two platforms often act in conjunction to provide reconnaissance to expose crews to less risk. The OH-58F has the ability to control UAVs directly to safely perform scout missions.[41] In 2011, the Kiowa was scheduled to be replaced by the light version of the Future Vertical Lift aircraft in the 2030s.[45]

As of December 2013, the U.S. Army has 338 Kiowas in its active-duty force and 30 in the Army National Guard. The Army is considering retiring the Kiowa as part of a wider restructuring to cut costs and reduce the various types of helicopters in service. The Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) for the AAS program found that the Kiowa operating alongside RQ-7 Shadow UAVs was the most affordable and capable solution; it also said that the AH-64E Apache Guardian was the most capable "immediate" solution for the scout helicopter role. It is proposed that all OH-58s be divested and all National Guard and Army Reserve Apaches would be transferred to the active Army to serve as scouts. The Apache costs 50 percent more than the Kiowa to operate and requires more maintenance; studies showed that if the Apache had been used in place of the Kiowa in Iraq and Afghanistan, total operating costs would have been $4 billion greater, but would save $1 billion per year in operating and sustainment costs. UH-60 Black Hawks would be transferred from the active fleet to reserve and Guard units. The proposal aims to retire older helicopters to save money and retain those with the greatest capabilities.[46] The 2010 AoA that found that Apaches teamed with UAVs was the optimal choice; with a reduced service size a total of 698 Apaches could fill the role. Funds for Apache upgrades would be released from the Kiowa's termination.[47] Media expects the OH-58s to go to foreign military rather than civilian operators due higher operating cost.[48]

The Army placed 26 out of 335 OH-58Ds in non-flyable storage during 2014. In anticipation of divesting the Kiowa, the Army is looking to see if other military branches, government agencies, and foreign customers would be interested in buying the aircraft. The Kiowas are considered in a good price range for foreign countries with limited resources. Bell has not yet agreed to support the helicopters if sold overseas. In November 2014 Croatia sent a letter of intent for the acquisition of 16 OH-58Ds.[49][50] Станом на 2015, the Army had divested 33 OH-58Ds.[51] By January 2016, the Army had divested all but two OH-58D squadrons, with the aircraft to finish divestiture before the end of the year.[52] In April 2016, two Kiowa squadrons with a combined 60 helicopters are in service.[53] In June 2016, members of 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, arrived in South Korea as part of the Kiowa's last deployment in U.S. Army service; the helicopters will be replaced upon the unit's return to Fort Bragg in nine months.[54]

As a consequence of the 2013 Aviation Restructure Initiative, some 340 divested U.S. Army OH-58D Kiowas were made available through Excess Defense Article and foreign military sales (FMS) programs. In 2016, Croatia and Tunisia became the first nations to request the helicopters, ordering 16 and 24 respectively.[55][56] Croatia received the first batch of 5 OH-58Ds at the Zadar-Zemunik air base on 30 June 2016.[57][58]


Примітки

  1. ↑ Remington, Steve. "The Cessna CH-1 Helicopter". CollectAir.com
  2. ↑ а б Beechy, Robert. "U.S Army Aircraft Acquisition Programs". Uncommon Aircraft 2006. 18 November 2005. Accessed on 19 September 2006.
  3. ↑ See Light Observation Helicopter. The Navy, who was assisting the Army in the selection phase, recommended the Hiller Model 1100, while the Army team preferred the Bell D-250, and then the 1100. The Selection Board selected both aircraft. Afterwards, the acting Army Chief of Staff directed the Selection Board to include the Hughes 369 in the fly-off competition.
  4. ↑ Spangenberg, George A. George A. Spangenberg Oral History. georgespangenberg.com. Judith Spangenberg-Currier, ed. pp. 187-190. Accessed on 29 April 2008.
  5. ↑ а б Visschedijk, Johan. "Bell 206 JetRanger". 1000AircraftPhotos.com. 16 October 2003. Accessed on 19 September 2006.
  6. ↑ Spenser, Jay P. "Bell Helicopter". Whirlybirds, A History of the U.S. Helicopter Pioneers, p. 263. University of Washington Press, 1998. ISBN 0-295-98058-3.
  7. ↑ Aastad, Andy. "The Introduction to the JetRanger". Rotor Magazine. Helicopter Association International. Winter 2006-2007. Accessed on 29 April 2008.
  8. ↑ Holley and Sloniker, p. 8.
  9. ↑ Hirschberg, Michael J. and David K. Daley. "Bell". US and Russian Helicopter Development In the 20th Century. American Helicopter Society. 7 July 2000. Accessed on 20 April 2007. Архівовано серпень 31, 2011 на сайті Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Holley and Sloniker, p. 90.
  11. ↑ Cocke, Karl E. (1972). V Force Development. Department of the Army Historical Summary. United States Army Center of Military History. Процитовано 17 January 2014.
  12. ↑ Cocke, Karl E. (1978). XI Research, Development and Acquisition. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1974. United States Army Center of Military History. Процитовано 14 квітня 2007.
  13. ↑ Cocke, Karl E. (1978). X Research, Development and Acquisition. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1975. United States Army Center of Military History. Процитовано 14 квітня 2007.
  14. ↑ Cocke, Karl E. (1977). Research, Development and Acquisition. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1976. United States Army Center of Military History. Процитовано 14 квітня 2007.
  15. ↑ 11. Research Development and Acquisition. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1980. United States Army Center of Military History. 1983. Процитовано 14 квітня 2007.
  16. ↑ Historic U.S. Army Helicopters. Архів оригіналу за 24 лютого 2007. Процитовано 14 квітня 2007.
  17. ↑ COL Robert S. Fairweather Jr. and MAJ Grant Fossum (July–August 1982). The AHIP: Field Artillery Aerial Observer Platform of the Future. Field Artillery Magazine. Архів оригіналу (PDF) за 7 жовтня 2006. {{cite journal}}: Недійсний |deadurl=unfit (довідка)
  18. ↑ Research Development and Acquisition. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1981. United States Army Center of Military History. 1988. Процитовано 14 квітня 2007.
  19. ↑ а б Помилка цитування: Неправильний виклик тегу <ref>: для виносок під назвою Jackson-1 не вказано текст
  20. ↑ а б Gough, Terrence J. (1995). Modernizing and Equipping the Army. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1986. United States Army Center of Military History.
  21. ↑ Webb, William Joe (1993). Modernizing and Equipping the Army. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1988. United States Army Center of Military History.
  22. ↑ Demma, Vincent H. (1998). 11. Modernization: Research, Development and Acquisition. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1989. United States Army Center of Military History.
  23. ↑ DRS Technologies, Inc. - Mast-Mounted Sight (MMS). Drs.com. Процитовано 11 лютого 2013.
  24. ↑ Bristol Aerospace.
  25. ↑ "Lieutenant General John Norton". Army Aviation Hall of Fame. Army Aviation Association of America. Accessed on 22 October 2008. Архівовано серпень 14, 2009 на сайті Wayback Machine.
  26. ↑ Historic U.S. Army Helicopters. 5 жовтня 2005. Архів оригіналу за 6 жовтня 2006. {{cite web}}: Недійсний |deadurl=unfit (довідка)
  27. ↑ "Bell Helicopter News information". Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association. Accessed on 22 October 2008.
  28. ↑ Roush, Gary. "Helicopter Losses During the Vietnam War". VHPA.org. Accessed on 4 January 2009.
  29. ↑ "Kiowa crewmember line of duty deaths". armyaircrews.com. Accessed on 4 January 2009.
  30. ↑ Operations EARNEST WILL and PRIME CHANCE. Night Stalker History. Процитовано 25 березня 2007.[недоступне посилання з 01.08.2016]
  31. ↑ Demma, Vincent H. (1998). 6. Operations. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1989. United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 101-21. Процитовано 25 березня 2007.
  32. ↑ Kaplan, L. Martin (2000). 5. Reserve Forces. Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1994. United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub 101-25.
  33. ↑ а б Doug Nelms (1 November 2002). Homeland Defense: Fighting Homeland Wars. Rotor & Wing via aviationtoday.com. Процитовано 2 October 2016.
  34. ↑ Operation Just Cause: The Incursion into Panama. United States Army Center of Military History. CMH Pub No. 70-85-1. Процитовано 1 September 2006.
  35. ↑ Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). "OH-58C Helicopter Down in North Korea". Press Release. United States Department of Defense. 19 December 1994. Accessed 30 December 2007.
  36. ↑ Miles, Donna. "Drama Along the DMZ". Soldiers. 4–5 February 1995. Accessed on 3 November 2006. (archive copy).
  37. ↑ OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Reconnaissance / Attack Helicopter, USA. SPG Media Limited. 27 листопада 2007. Архів оригіналу за 4 July 2008. Процитовано 4 серпня 2008.
  38. ↑ Sayah, Reza with Barbara Starr and Jamie McIntyre. "U.S., Pakistan exchange shots at volatile border". CNN.com, 25 September 2008. Accessed on 15 January 2009.
  39. ↑ Hastings, Michael, "America's New Cavalry", Men's Journal, September 2010, p. 128.
  40. ↑ Thackary, Lorna. "Injured Red Lodge soldier recounts blast, dramatic rescue in Afghanistan". BillingsGazette.com, 18 April 2010. Accessed on 31 May 2013.
  41. ↑ а б Another Old Warrior Too Good To Replace - Strategypage.com, May 14, 2013
  42. ↑ "Bell Helicopter Provides OH-58 Kiowa Warrior Program Update" Bell/Textron, April 12, 2013. Accessed: December 8, 2013.
  43. ↑ U.S. Army officials said to back new scout helicopter - Reuters.com, November 30, 2012
  44. ↑ "U.S. Army Confirms AAS Will Be New Start Or OH-58 SLEP". Aviationweek.com, 10 May 2013.
  45. ↑ Superfast Helicopters - Defensemedianetwork.com, 25 October 2011
  46. ↑ Army Plans To Scrap Kiowa Helo Fleet - MarineCorpstimes.com, 9 December 2013
  47. ↑ Army aviation flying smarter into fiscal squeeze - Army.mil, 14 January 2014
  48. ↑ Host, Pat (April 2015). Army's aviation restructuring not to affect civil helicopter market. Rotor & Wing. с. 38—42. Процитовано 12 April 2015.
  49. ↑ KOTROMANOVIĆ PISAO PENTAGONU Hrvatska traži od SAD-a 16 borbenih letjelica. jutarnji.hr. Процитовано 2 October 2016.
  50. ↑ US Army begins grounding Kiowas, seeks buyers - Flightglobal.com, 7 May 2014
  51. ↑ Downsized US Army to pass on 533 shunned OH-58, TH-67 helicopters (archive)
  52. ↑ US Army forging ahead with OH-58D and TH-67 retirements - Flightglobal.com, 14 January 2016
  53. ↑ Brooks, Drew (12 April 2016). Army's Kiowa helicopters to fly in last formation. The Fayetteville Observer. Процитовано 2 June 2016. Nearly three years after defense officials first proposed eliminating the small aircraft from the Army's aviation, all but two squadrons - each flying 30 helicopters - have bid adieu to the Kiowa.
  54. ↑ Final deployment is underway for Army's Kiowa helicopters - Armytimes.com, 26 June 2016
  55. ↑ "Croatia, Tunisia First To Receive U.S. Kiowa Warriors". Ainonline.com, 6 June 2016
  56. ↑ Tunisia-OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Aircraft Equipment and Support. dsca.mil. 3 May 2016. Процитовано 30 June 2016.
  57. ↑ Salinger, Igor (2 August 2016). First ex-US Army OH-58Ds delivered to Croatia. FlightGlobal. Процитовано 2 August 2016.
  58. ↑ Tabak, Igor (2 August 2016). Croatia receives first OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. IHS Jane's 360. Процитовано 2 August 2016.

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