OH-58D Kiowa Warrior

[Milocat 4,857]

The Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior is a variant of the OH-58 Kiowa scouting helicopter modified for light attack duty.  Modified in the early 1990s, the Kiowa Warrior is a small, lightweight, and highly maneuverable helicopter designed to fly at extremely low altitudes to identify targets at range and either eliminate them or mark them for a heavier unit to destroy as quickly as possible.  The helicopter itself is lightly protected but the rotor blades are made of strong, light composite materials and can withstand a 23mm cannon hit without breaking.  Aside from that the Kiowa Warrior relies upon a suite of flare launchers and electronic jammers to avoid damage, as well as its excellent maneuverability.  While other variants of the Kiowa are usually unarmed or armed only with hatch-mounted machine guns, the Kiowa Warrior adds two hardpoints that can carry Hydra rocket pods, Hellfire anti-tank missiles, .50-caliber machine gun pods, or 40mm automatic grenade launchers for softer targets.  The helicopter's greatest asset is its Mast Surveillance System, a sensor and avionics pod mounted atop the rotor assembly.  This pod contains standard cameras, infrared scanners, and a laser rangefinder and can rotate in a full 360 degrees independently of the rest of the helicopter.  The pod allows the Kiowa to peer over low cover and spot enemies without exposing the helicopter to return fire.  The Kiowa warrior can also use this pod to lob guided munitions (the Hellfire missiles in particular) over cover in a similar fashion, to attack targets without exposing itself to return fire.  

 

I think that the Kiowa Warrior would make for a great addition to War Thunder!  The view from the MSS pod should be an additional view preset, allowing the pilot to peer over trees and ridgelines just like on the real helicopter.  It would not be particularly heavily armed but should be capable of accurate fire and sneak attacks.  

 

Specifications:  

Engines:  One Rolls-Royce T703-AD-700A turboshaft engine, 650 hp

Length:  12.85m

Height:  3.91m

Rotor Diameter:  10.67m

Empty Weight:  1,737kg (3,829lbs)

Loaded Weight:  2,495kg (5,500lbs)

Maximum Speed:  240 kmh (149 mph)

Crew:  2 (Pilot, copilot)

Payload:  Two side hardpoints capable of carrying one of the following loadouts:  

-Two LAU-8 70mm (2.75 inch) Hydra 70 seven-shot rocket pods (14 rockets total)

-Launch rails for two AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (four missiles total)  

-Launch rails for two stinger missiles (four missiles total)

-Two M296 or M3P .50 caliber machine gun pods (two guns total)

-Two M19 40mm automatic grenade launcher pods (two launchers total) 

Mixing of these loadouts is possible.  

Number Built:  ~2,200 Kiowa helicopters of all variants built in total

 

Images:  

Spoiler

 

Extra:  

Kiowa flight and weapons testing:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjVKkE0fEws

 

Sources:  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_OH-58_Kiowa

https://www.military.com/equipment/oh-58d-kiowa-warrior

https://www.army-technology.com/projects/kiowa/

http://www.airwar.ru/enc/ah/oh58.html

http://www.military-today.com/helicopters/oh58d_kiowa_warrior.htm

Edited March 28, 2019 by Milocat

[Radom 4,245]

Open for discussion

[Milocat 4,857]

15 minutes ago, Radom said:

Open for discussion

 

Thank you!  

[joshwagstaff13 410]

+1

 

13 hours ago, Milocat said:

Crew:  2 (Pilot, copilot)

Armament:  One 30mm Shipunov 2A42 autocannon in mobile semi-rigid mount on right side of nose (460 rounds).

Payload:  Two side hardpoints capable of carrying one of the following loadouts:  

You might want to edit that out, people might get the wrong idea.

[sigma__zero@psn 4,650]

I definitely want that (and not just because I have fond memories of a toy OH-58 I had as a kid ). The top mounted pod serving as the gunner sight view could lead to some very interesting gameplay and if armed with Hellfires it could be a good way of continuing the UH-1B tree line, with the UH-1C line leading to heavier attack helicopters.

[Milocat 4,857]

On 22/10/2018 at 10:31, joshwagstaff13 said:

+1

 

You might want to edit that out, people might get the wrong idea.

 

Yeah, I copy-pasted the statblock from my Ka-50 suggestion.  Noticed it myself and fixed it, but thanks for pointing that out.  

 

On 22/10/2018 at 11:30, *sigma__zero said:

I definitely want that (and not just because I have fond memories of a toy OH-58 I had as a kid ). The top mounted pod serving as the gunner sight view could lead to some very interesting gameplay and if armed with Hellfires it could be a good way of continuing the UH-1B tree line, with the UH-1C line leading to heavier attack helicopters.

 

This is exactly what I was thinking!  Being able to use the mast sight would allow for some interesting gameplay.  It can't carry many AGTMs but imagine how annoying it would be as a tanker to have missiles lobbed accurately at you over a ridge and being unable to see or shoot at the helicopter doing it.

Edited November 9, 2018 by Milocat

[_Iron_Force_ 6]

Would make a great addition to a light helicopter tree along with the little bird!

[ivica70 910]

Support this!

[onemax9000 1,243]

+1 gib

[Wilhuff_Tarkin_ 467]

+1

I think with we need scouting ability for helicopters.

[Jamaroo 246]

Looks very versatile, I like it. as long as it has a very low repair cost to make it expendable, otherwise it would be almost impossible to make even 2k lions with that sort of payload reliably  

 

50 lion spawn cost would be nice! anyone agree here?  

[PaganMin_ 483]

Armament is not correct. The OH-58D is capable of carrying 4 Stinger air-to-air missiles.

[Milocat 4,857]

3 hours ago, DrEvil__ said:

Armament is not correct. The OH-58D is capable of carrying 4 Stinger air-to-air missiles.

 

It's been added, thank you!  

[PaganMin_ 483]

You are welcome. 

I wonder, according to the 2nd picture, there are 4 Stingers on one side with still a place for more weapons left. I would like to know if the Kiowa has 4 weapon stations which means it would double the load at least for Stingers and Hydras. But maybe that would be too much weight for the Heliclpter.

Edited March 20, 2019 by DrEvil__

[krise_madsen 442]

15 hours ago, DrEvil__ said:

You are welcome. 

I wonder, according to the 2nd picture, there are 4 Stingers on one side with still a place for more weapons left. I would like to know if the Kiowa has 4 weapon stations which means it would double the load at least for Stingers and Hydras. But maybe that would be too much weight for the Heliclpter.

I think the quad launcher is for DAGR lightweight missile. It certainly fits images found elsewhere.

 

[PaganMin_ 483]

11 minutes ago, krise_madsen said:

I think the quad launcher is for DAGR lightweight missile. It certainly fits images found elsewhere.

 

You are right. Thanks.

[CokeSpray 7,274]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.