Originally Posted by
Lonewolf_50
Where's the engine, Chopper?
For CTR:
Most of what OH-58 can do drones can do, recon wise.
Shooting wise, the hellfire add on was nice, but it's too slow.
Manpower wise, when it was shelved, the army saved thousands of billets to move elsewhere during a manpower reduction
They also cut an entire logistics tail for a model Bell wasn't being great about supporting any more.
(The Navy ran into similar problems with the TH-57, but different ones at that).
Capability wise, the combined scout and attack mission with Apache and drones/UAVs works well enough.
Your are focusing on an airframe, not on a capability. Sorry, but it was the right choice for the Army.
The OH-58D was a great little aircraft, and the F update was something I once knew a small amount about but have mostly forgotten since.
With NDA's considered, I can say that during some ops - that involved shooting - the whole thing was aided and completed with OH-58D being a part of the op.
Good folks, good job, good bird, not too expensive to operate.
Letting it go was a very sound decision. (Particularly at the time, given the political environment).
Lonewoof,
Not exactly sure why you would specifically address me to this post. I do not disagree that the Kiowa was long past when it should’ve been retired. But retiring an aircraft without an adequate replacement, was incredibly shortsighted. Additionally, thinking the Kiowa could be replaced with Apaches and drones to save cost was a farce from day one.
The poor abused TH-57s were badly in need of replacement from too many student hard landings. Bell product support had nothing to do with their replacement. The reason Bell lost the contract for the aircraft replacement was due primarily bidding too high. Bell corrected this mistake following the contract loss by requesting those individuals in charge to look for employment elsewhere.