The Bell OH-58 Kiowa is a family of single-engine, single-rotor, military attack helicopters used for observation, utility, and direct fire support. Bell Helicopter manufactured the OH-58 for the United States Army based on the 206A JetRanger helicopter. The OH-58 has been in continuous use by the U.S. Army since 1969.
The latest model, the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, is primarily operated in an armed reconnaissance role in support of ground troops. The OH-58 has been exported to Austria, Canada, Dominican Republic, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia. It has also been produced under license in Australia.
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 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.
Wire Strike Protection System
One distinctive feature of operational OH-58s are the knife-like extensions above and below the cockpit which is 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.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2 pilots
- Length: 42 ft 2 in (12.85 m)
- Main rotor diameter: 35 ft 0 in (10.67 m)
- Height: 12 ft 105⁄8 in (3.93 m)
- Main rotor area: 14.83 ft2 (1.38 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,829 lb (1,737 kg)
- Gross weight: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce T703-AD-700A or 250-C30R/3 turboshaft, 650 hp (485 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 149 mph (241 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 127 mph (204 km/h)
- Range: 345 miles (555 km)
- Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,575 m)
Armament
- AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles
- Hydra 70 rockets
- M296 or M3P .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine gun.
- AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles (no longer used)
