I listened to the Fighter Pilot Podcast episode on the OH-58 Kiowa: https://www.fighterpilotpodcast.com/...9-oh-58-kiowa/
It got me thinking about the Kiowa.
It's mission, and the many failed replacement attempts such as the RAH-66 Comanche.
It was interesting hearing how the mission of the OH-58 transformed from the cold war, near-peer threat to operations in the COIN environment. I'm not sure the Comanche would have been risked in many operations over the past 20 years. The next replacement attempt was the ARH-70 Arapaho.
Cost overruns got this bird killed, but it didn't seem like it had many advantages over the OH-58. Next came the Armed Aerial Scout program with a host of potential options, but I think the best platform for this role would have actually been the H135.
EADS did offered the H145 for the AAS program, I assume due to commonality with the UH-72, but I think the H135 would have been better. The H135 retains two engines for performance, but is smaller than the 145. Iraq and previously Jordan have operated the H135 in a similar role.
Having now retired the OH-58, the US Army is currently searching for its future armed reconnaissance helicopter with the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program, again with a near-peer threat in mind. I predict the Bell 360 Invictus (which looks like a refined Comanche) will win over the Sikorsky Raider X.
I have noticed over the past twenty years of following military aircraft procurement that the best looking design most often wins. Obviously the service and servicemen want to look cool while performing their duty, but I postulate that if a design looks good, then the design inherently lends itself to aesthetics, or the design is mature and the design team was able to devote more time to looks than other, less attractive designs.
Armed reconnaissance helicopters, just something that I've been interested in this week, especially the H135 design, it's a shame it never caught on.
It got me thinking about the Kiowa.
It's mission, and the many failed replacement attempts such as the RAH-66 Comanche.
It was interesting hearing how the mission of the OH-58 transformed from the cold war, near-peer threat to operations in the COIN environment. I'm not sure the Comanche would have been risked in many operations over the past 20 years. The next replacement attempt was the ARH-70 Arapaho.
Cost overruns got this bird killed, but it didn't seem like it had many advantages over the OH-58. Next came the Armed Aerial Scout program with a host of potential options, but I think the best platform for this role would have actually been the H135.
EADS did offered the H145 for the AAS program, I assume due to commonality with the UH-72, but I think the H135 would have been better. The H135 retains two engines for performance, but is smaller than the 145. Iraq and previously Jordan have operated the H135 in a similar role.
Having now retired the OH-58, the US Army is currently searching for its future armed reconnaissance helicopter with the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft program, again with a near-peer threat in mind. I predict the Bell 360 Invictus (which looks like a refined Comanche) will win over the Sikorsky Raider X.
I have noticed over the past twenty years of following military aircraft procurement that the best looking design most often wins. Obviously the service and servicemen want to look cool while performing their duty, but I postulate that if a design looks good, then the design inherently lends itself to aesthetics, or the design is mature and the design team was able to devote more time to looks than other, less attractive designs.
Armed reconnaissance helicopters, just something that I've been interested in this week, especially the H135 design, it's a shame it never caught on.
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