Innovative. Consistent. Unmatched.
Offering unparalleled war-fighting capabilities, the Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior delivers the goods on the bad guys. Combat-proven world-wide, in long-range day and night target acquisition, this warrior-lookout claims multiple armaments. With characteristic low infrared and acoustic signatures, as well as multi-purpose quick-change kits, the Kiowa can be armed and ready to fight less than 10 minutes after off-load from a C-130.
Weapons Capability
Universal weapons pylons offer quick-change selection of the helicopter's diverse weapons systems. Each of the helicopter's two pylons can be armed with any of the following:
- Hellfire and anti-tank missiles
- Hydra 70 rockets
- Air-to-air Stinger missiles
- .50-caliber machine gun
Survivability & Crashworthiness
Like no other armed reconnaissance helicopter in the world, the OH-58D survives combat with a countermeasure suite, which includes:
- Infrared seeker jammer
- Pulse and CW radar warning receivers
- Laser warning detectors
- Inherent infrared suppression
Mast-Mounted Sight
The mast-mounted sight enables the Kiowa Warrior to fight both day and night, at the maximum range of its weapons systems - and with minimum exposure. The aircraft remains concealed during all but a few seconds of an autonomous engagement, making it considerably more survivable than gunships with nose-mounted sensors.
Systems inside the mast include:
- High-resolution TV camera for long-range, low-light target detection
- IR thermal imaging sensor for navigation, target acquisition at night or under obscured conditions
- Laser rangerfinder for precise target location and guidance of armament
- Boresight assembly for quick in-flight sensor alignment
Engine Transmission and Rotor
The Kiowa's power train gives the speed, lift and maneuverablilty needed to endure battlefield conditions. Standard on the OH-58D are:
- 458 kw (650 shp) Allison turbine, proven on Bell's commercial model 206 LongRangers, which have amassed tens of thousands of flight hours
- "Ruggedized" transmission with a transient power capability of 475 kw (637 hp)
- Four-bladed main rotor system with all-composite, lifetime rotorblades capable of surviving shell hits up to .50 caliber
Cockpit Electronics
The OH-58D features:
- Video recorder for storing TV and thermal imagery from mission
+ Cockpit playback capability - Data transfer system with data-loading module for pre-mission storing of navigation waypoints and radio frequencies
- Night vision goggle flight reference symbology display
- Have-Quick UHF and SINCGARS FM anti-jam radio
- Displays to align and fire weapons systems
