OH-58 Kiowa Warrior
Kiowa Warrior without the radar dome |
|
Kiowa Warrior Technical Data |
| Maximum weight
|
1,361 kg
|
3,000 lbs
|
| Empty weight
|
664 kg
|
1,463 lbs
|
| Engine
|
Allison T63-A-700 with 317 HP at take-off
|
| Maximum speed
|
222 km/h
|
120 kt
|
| Max cruise speed
|
258 km/h
|
139 kt
|
| Range (with internal fuel tanks)
|
611 km
|
330 mi
|
OH-58, being the first scout helicopter from this family, first flew in 1969, as a military version of the Bell 206A Ranger helicopter.
Later on, several versions followed, which concluded with the latest OH-58 D Kiowa Warrior, which entered service in 1987.
The Kiowa Warrior is a scouting helicopter. It's primary mission is to find, observe, and if needed, attack ground targets deep inside enemy-held teritorry.
OH-58D has an APR-39 radar and is fitted with an ALQ-144 IR jammer unit (same one used on the AH-64 Apache), FLIR and laser-designators, as well as NVGs(Night Vision Goggles) for the pilots.
Kiowa Warrior in Combat
The first wide use of the Kiowa Warrior in a major conflict was during the 1991 Gulf War.
Then, a large number of OH-58D's were detached to bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Their mission was to scout ahead of the attacking forces for enemy tanks, trucks, convoys, armour, as well as air defences positions.
A single Kiowa Warrior deployed several miles (up to 20 miles) in front of a squadron of AH-64A Apaches, was meant to find these targets, and if needed, also illuminate them with the laser designator, in order for the Apaches to fire their Hellfire missiles without exposing themselves to the enemy. Most of the missions conducted by Apache helicopters during the first Gulf war, were done with the assistance of the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters.
OH-58D was used in many conflicts, but a deployment in large numbers had to wait until the 2003 Gulf War.
This time, most of the Kiowa Warriors, which were originally meant to be scouting helicopters and no more, had been fitted with Hellfire II anti-tank missiles, and no longer needed to wait for the Apaches in order to destroy their targets. In fact, the Kiowa was used in such a large number, that most of the times you were watching CNN, and saw helicopters in the background, they were either Blackhawks, or Kiowa's.
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