Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior (Republic of China)

[Miki_Hoshii 2,449]

Hello everyone! Today I will be presenting the very first helicopter suggestion for the Chinese helicopter tech tree. Today we'll be looking at the Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.

 

 

 

History:

Prior to the OH-58D, the Republic of China Army operated a handful of OH-6A's as observation helicopters, but by the late 1980's it was clear that they were in need of replacing. A program to modernize the Republic of China's aircraft and rotorcraft called Lu Peng began in August of 1991. To replace the OH-6A in the observation role, it was clear that its direct US successor was the ideal replacement to the ROCA's aging OH-6A's. The OH-58D is considered the most heavily armed variant of the OH-58 series of observation helicopters. Powered by a single Rolls-Royce T703-AD-700A turbine producing 650 SHP, the OH-58D is a small and swift helicopter. Equipped on the top of the rotor blades is the Mast Mounted Sight (MMS), which is equipped with a stabilized thermal camera system, as well as a laser rangefinder and designator. This allowed the helicopter to both observe and engage targets without needing to expose the entire helicopter, as all it needed was the MMS to peak over a hill or treeline. In order to complete its mission safely and return home, the OH-58D was equipped with an infrared exhaust suppresion system, an IRCM "disco ball" jammer, as well as radar warning, and laser warning receivers. In February 1992, the ROCA placed an order for 12 OH-58D's, as well as 14 optional additional helicopters. The first OH-58D's arrived in Taiwan in October of 1993, and all optional 14 helicopters were ordered, bring the total to 26. Again, in 1997 additional OH-58's were request by the military, and in 1998 Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation was awarded a contract to assemble 13 OH-58D's. The first AIDC assembled OH-58D rolled off the production line in 1999, and all 13 were delivered by 2001. The OH-58D also is the first armed observation helicopter operated by the ROCA, being equipped with two pylons on each side capable of mounting two Hellfires, or two 7-tube Hydra rocket pods. The port side pylon also is capable of mounting the M296 12.7mm gunpod with a maximum rate of fire of 850 rounds per minute. OH-58D's in ROCA service are currently assigned to Armed Reconnaissance Battalion's of both the 601st, and 602nd Air Cavalry Brigades, with 38 in service in 2019. The OH-58D #613 was lost in 2001, when during an emergency landing the helicopter hit powerlines and crashed with one injured pilot, and another killed.

 

 

 

In-Game:

The OH-58D would be a fun little helicopter to use, being small but deadly as it is armed with hellfires. If in the future an additional OH-58D would arrive to the US, or if the US was to get their OH-58D, the only difference between the two nations is the option of a different gunpod with the US Army, as well as the US Army OH-58D's having the ability to mount AIM-92 Stingers. Stingers have not been fitted to ROCA OH-58D's and currently there is no plans to do so.

 

 

Specifications:

 

General characteristics:

 

Crew: Two

Length: 42 ft 2 in (12.85 m)

Rotor diametre: 35 ft (10.67 m)

Height: 12 ft 10 in (3.93 m)

Empty weight: 3,829 lb (1,737 kg)

Max. takeoff weight: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)

Powerplant: 1 ×  Rolls-Royce T703-AD-700A, 650 SHP (478 kW)

Rotor system: 4 x primary blades, 2 x tail blades

Fuselage length: N/A

Stub wingspan: N/A

 

Performance:

 

Never exceed speed: N/A

Maximum speed: 149 mph (240 km/h)

Range: 161 mi (556 km)

Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,575 m)

Rate of climb: 1,615 ft/min (8.2 m/s)

 

Armament:

 

1x M296 12.7mm gunpod

4x AGM-114C Hellfire air-to-ground missiles

4x AGM-114K/M Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles

14x 70mm Hydra rockets

 

Other:

 

Engine exhaust infrared suppression

Thermal camera system

AN/ALQ-144 IRCM

AN/APR-39 & AN/APR-44 radar warning receiver

AN/AVR-2 laser warning receiver

Laser rangefinder

Laser designator 

AN/AVS-6 helmet mounted night vision 

 

 

Sources:

Spoiler

 

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

https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/中華民國陸軍#直升機

http://www.taiwanairpower.org/army/oh58d.html

http://old.ltn.com.tw/2001/new/aug/24/today-c4.htm

https://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/oh-58.htm

 

 

Edited October 17, 2020 by Miki_Hoshii

[leroyonly 4,310]

Open for discussion. 

[Milocat 4,848]

Ooh, yes please.  +1.

[TerikG2014 1,389]

No God no. Let's not give China any more stuff that belongs to other nations than it possibly needs to have because it's bloody bad enough as it is and there are alternatives. To fill this role you have the PRC's unique Changhe Z-11W light Multirole Helicopter.

Edited November 27, 2019 by TerikG2014

[Haschide 15]

+1 Chinese Helicopters? Yes.

[Nicholas_Concu 2,634]

6 hours ago, Borotovas said:

No because it's copy+paste

How is this copy paste?
Its not even in the game first of all.
Secondly if you're calling this a copy paste, is it safe to assume most of the helicopters you've suggested in the arab-iranian tech tree are also copy pasted.

Also +1 this helicopter should be in the game for America and China/Taiwan.

[TerikG2014 1,389]

1 hour ago, Nicholas_Concu said:

How is this copy paste?
Its not even in the game first of all.
Secondly if you're calling this a copy paste, is it safe to assume most of the helicopters you've suggested in the arab-iranian tech tree are also copy pasted.

Also +1 this helicopter should be in the game for America and China/Taiwan.

I agree that it's not a copy paste but this should be US rather than China/Taiwan they have domestic and more unique alternatives as I have already pointed out.

[Nicholas_Concu 2,634]

1 hour ago, TerikG2014 said:

I agree that it's not a copy paste but this should be US rather than China/Taiwan they have domestic and more unique alternatives as I have already pointed out.

I don’t really see it as a problem considering no other nation we have in game has the Kiowa in their armies. 

[Borotovas 4,500]

+1

 

But personally, I'd like to see some PRC helicopters.

 

[_Pixy 196]

+1

[ACOMETS 977]

it is better to use domestic designs if there is one + this thing is too slow and bad for a hellfire carrier at 10.3 . it will get wrecked by a single german  20mm or 50 cal.

[hienapunk 1,064]

How I see it you can make a mainland line in the tech tree and add the more notable roc stuff as premium.

[righttree 1]

Most national helicopters first appeared in the form of gold coin cars (such as Japan). I think China should first add more advanced models of helicopters (for example, the Soviet Union's ka50 and the United States' ah64 helicopters, whose BR is 10.7. China should do the same)

Edited June 5, 2022 by righttree

[CokeSpray 7,272]

Suggestion passed to the developers for consideration.