OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Reconnaissance helicopter with light attack capability

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Status: in 2019 Army Aviation Greece acquired 70 light reconnaissance and attack helicopters OH-58D Kiowa Warrior. Produced: 1991-2011
Airframe time: average flight time is 5.800 flight hours
Of them:
- 36 combat-ready helicopters
- 24 for Hellenic Army Pilot Training
- 10 as spare parts Subordination: 1rd Army Aviation Helicopter Battalion

The OH-58D Kiowa Warrior two-seater army helicopter is based on the OH-58D Kiowa (Bell 206A) helicopter. Helicopter OH- 58D Kiowa Warrior is designed for reconnaissance and visual observation of the battlefield and the ability to fly in the terrain-relief envelope mode up to 15 m (in height). Since 1986 their main focus was interaction with attack helicopters AH- 64A (search and target detection, target designation, as well as target illumination with a laser beam for targeting Hellfire anti-tank missiles), as well as independently perform combat functions as a reconnaissance and attack helicopter. 

The helicopter is designed according to a single-rotor scheme with a four-bladed main rotor and a single-bladed tail propeller (the main rotor provides operability when hit by projectiles with a caliber of up to 23 mm).
The helicopter is equipped with one gas turbine engine (GTE) Allison 250-C30R / 3 (Rolls-Royce Turboshaft) with a takeoff power of 478 kW (650 hp). To reduce IR visibility, an exhaust gas cooling system was installed.
The first flight of experimental OH-58D took place on September 1, 1983. The production of the helicopter started in 1985.

EQUIPMENT:

The cockpit is equipped with two multi-functional LCD displays (MFD).

The Mast Mounted Sight (MMS), which resembles a beach ball perched above the rotor system with a size of 119,38x63,5 cm. Installed on a gyro-stabilized platform, 85 cm higher above the main rotor. 

The MMS system includes:
- television system (camera with 12x magnification, working during the day).
- thermal imaging system (possible applications be used at night and in bad weather).
- laser ranger finder/designator with a range of 9.99 km (for targeting ATGMs and guided artillery shells).
- the MMS system has the ability to rotate 360 degrees and change the vertical angle within ± 30 degrees.

ARMAMENT: The armament consists of:
- rocket launcher system Hydra 70 rocket.
- ATGM AGM-114 Hellfire.
- pod with 7,62 and 12,7 mm machine guns. 

ATGM AGM-114 Hellfire.	Rocket launcher system Hydra 70 rocket.

OPERATIONAL HISTORY:
The helicopter was actively used in the war in Afghanistan (from 2002-2020/21), in Iraq (from 2003-2011). 

Technical specifications

Photos  OH-58D Kiowa Warrior, Army Aviation (Greece)