Mission:
Conduct armed
reconnaissance,
security, target acquisition and designation, command and control,
light
attack and defensive air combat missions in support of combat and
contingency
operations. Replaces AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters (those that function
as scouts in air cavalry troops and light attack companies) and OH-58A
and C Kiowas in air cavalry troops. Will be replaced by Comanche.
Entered Army Service: 1991
Description:
A single
engine, four-bladed
helicopter with advanced visionics, navigation, communication, and
weapons
and cockpit integration systems. The mast-mounted sight (MMS) houses a
thermal imaging system, low-light television, laser
rangefinder/designator,
and an optical boresight system. These systems enable the Kiowa
Warrior
to operate by day and night and allow target acquisition and engagement
at stand-off ranges and in adverse weather conditions. The Kiowa
Warrior's
highly accurate navigation system provides precise target location that
can be sent digitally to other
aircraft or
artillery
via its advanced digital communications system. Battlefield
imagery
can be transmitted to provide near-real-time situational awareness to
command
and control elements. The Laser Designator can provide autonomous
designation
for the Laser HELLFIRE or remote designation for other
laser-guided
precision weapons.
The Kiowa
Warrior is equipped
with two universal quick-change weapons pylons. Each pylon can
be armed with
two HELLFIRE
missiles, seven HYDRA 70 rockets, two air-to-air Stinger missiles, or
one
.50 caliber fixed forward machine gun. The armament systems combine to
provide anti-armor, anti-personnel, and anti-aircraft capabilities at
standoff
ranges.
The Kiowa
Warrior is rapidly
deployable by air and can be fully operational within minutes of
arrival. Two
Kiowa aircraft
can be transported in a C-130 aircraft. For air transportation the
vertical
tail fin pivots, the main rotor blades and the horizontal stabilizer
are
folded, and the mast mounted site, the IFF antenna and the lower wire
cutter
are removed. The landing gear can kneel to decrease
the
height.
Although
Kiowa Warrior
fielding is complete, the Army is currently installing a series of
safety
and
performance
modifications
to keep the aircraft safe and mission effective until it is
retired.
Specifications:
Crew: 2
Max gross
weight: 5,500
lbs (armed)
Empty weight:
3,289 lbs
Height: 12 ft,
10.6 in
Width: 6 ft,
5.4 in
Length:
33 ft,
4 in
Rotor diameter:
35 ft
Max cruise
speed:
128 mph
Range:
299 miles
(sea level, no weapons, 10% reserve)
Ceiling:
19,000
ft
Armament:
Air-to-air
Stinger (ATAS)
(2 round launcher); .50 caliber machine
gun (500
rounds); HYDRA
70 (2.75 in) rockets (7-shot pod);
HELLFIRE
missiles (2-round
launcher)
Manufacturer:
Rolls
Royce/Allison Engines
(Indianapolis, IN); Honeywell (Albuquerque, NM); Bell Helicopter,
Textron (Fort
Worth,
TX); Boeing (Anaheim, CA); Simula (Tempe, AZ); Edwards (Bristol,
TN).
