OH-58 Kiowa
IOC: May 1968
OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
IOC: 1991
Also Known As
406CS Combat Scout (Advanced variant ordered by Saudi Arabia)
Bell 206B-1 Kiowa (Variant ordered by Australia)
CH-139 (Canadian designation for the OH-58 helicopter)
COH-58A Kiowa (Early designation for Canadian Kiowas)
OH-58A
OH-58B
OH-58C
OH-58X (Improved variant with stealth features)
Origin
United States of America
Contractor/s
Bell Helicopter
Applications
Bell 429
Family Members
ARH-70A
Bell 407
Bell 427
Derived from:
Bell 206
Guided Missiles:
AGM-114C Hellfire (4)
SAM & ABM Missiles:
FIM-92 Stinger (4)
Power plant:
Model 250-C30R/T703
Sensors & Communications:
AN/APR-39
AN/APX-100
AN/ARC-164
AN/AVR-2A(V)
Protection Systems:
AN/ALQ-144A
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Description:
The OH-58 Kiowa is a combat scout and reconnaissance helicopter derived from Bell 406 commercial aircraft and intended for use by the US Army aviation units. Following the Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP), Bell and the US Army developed the OH-58D Kiowa unarmed helicopter which features. Around 500 existing OH-58A/C models were planned to be retrofitted into OH-58D configuration, but this figure was finally slashed with less than 200 OH-58s upgraded to -D configuration.
The first OH-58D test helicopter flew in 1983. It achieved initial operational capability two years later, in 1985, carrying its prominent mast mounted sight. Kiowa's mast mounted sight features Infrared (IR) and TV sensors to better perform observation and target designation missions in support of the US Army's AH-64 attack helicopters. The need of a lightweight helicopter capable of delivering weapons against small elusive targets such as gunboats in the late 1980s led to development of the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed helicopter.
The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter retains the mast mounted sight and the majority of features from D models, but introduces the capability of loading guns, unguided rockets and missiles. Kiowa Warrior can be armed either with four Stinger air-to-air missiles or four AGM-114C Hellfire anti-armor missiles. In addition, the helicopter also accepts small caliber guns ranging from 7.62mm machine guns to .50 caliber (12.5mm) cannons as well as 70mm rocket launcher pods.
Infrared jammers, structural improvements, radar warning receiver, uprated transmission, laser warners, and other improvements have been provided to Kiowa Warrior for enhanced survivability. Typically, the Kiowa/Kiowa Warrior helicopter accommodates a crew of two men; pilot and observer. Additionally, the aircraft can accommodate three passengers, infantrymen, in the rear compartment. The United States Army has procured around 500 Kiowa Warriors since 1991 through upgrading of previous models, specially A and D.
The 406CS Combat Scout is a downgraded version of Kiowa Warrior for export customers replacing the original mast mounted sight by Saab's Helitow sight provided and having downgraded avionics. 406CS helicopters have been sold to Saudi Arabia. Taiwan purchased OH-58Ds in the 1990s but it remains uncertain whether those aircraft were Kiowa Warriors or early -D models. OH-58X was planned as a very upgraded model, but apparently, this project was discontinued.
Specifications
Accommodation: Crew 2, Passengers 3
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 12.50 mm
Dimensions: Height 3.9 m, Length 12.9 m, Main Rotor Diameter 10.7 m
Weights: Max Weight 2,500 kg (5,511 lb), Min Weight 1,500 kg (3,307 lb)
Performance: Ceiling 4,500 m (14,764 ft), Cruise Speed 59 mps (211 kph), Endurance 3 hours 30 min, Max Range 400 km (216 nm), Top Speed 66 mps (237 kph)
Power: Power 650 shp
Other: Main Rotor Blades 4, Number of Engines 1
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Australia / 57 
Austria / 12 
Canada / 72 
Saudi Arabia
Taiwan
United States of America / 2,200 
The US Army received approx. 2,200 OH-58s and currently only operates the OH-58D helicopter model