The primary mission of this helicopter is scouting and attacking. it can be equipped to carry out transport and utility roles using equipment kits installed externally on existing hard points. A cargo carrying hook is rated to carry loads up to 2,000lbs. Emergency casualty evacuations can be carried on stretchers, as well as over 320kg of supplies to troops in a 185km raduis. Two Kiowas can be transported in a C-130 Hercules aircraft. For air transportations the vertical fin pivots, the main rotor blades and horizontal stabilizer are folded, and the mast mounted sight, the IFF antenna and lower wire cutter are removed. The landing gear can kneel to decrease the Kiowa Warrior's height.
The Kiowa has also been referred to as as black death. It was during the 1st gulf war the Kiowas were operating off of Navy ships in the Persian Gulf, Operation Prime Chance, they're mission was to find gun boats and blow them up. Most operations were done at night time to use the Infared capabilities of the Mast Mounted Sight of the helicopter. The 58's were able to track the gun boats from a considerable distance and were able to destroy the boats with stinger missles without being seen or heard. They never new what hit them. It was the people running the gun boats that made that name up. Officially, it's just call it the 58delta or KW(KiowaWarrior).
Cockpit. 
The Kiowa was the first U.S. Army Helicopter to have an all glass cockpit. The cockpit is supplied by Sperry Flight Systems and is equipped with a multiple target tracking/moving target indicator, an ANVIS(Aviations Night Vision System)Display Symbology System and helmet mounted display. the primary multi-function displays provide situation information, communications control, and the mast mounted sight video. A video recorder stores television and thermal imagery from the missions an allows playback in the cockpit.
Weapons.
The OH is with two universal quick change weapons pylons. Each pylon can be armed with 2 Hellfire missles, 7 Hydra 70 Rockets, 2 air-to-air Stinger missles, or one .50 calibre fixed foward machine gun. Mission processors control the suite of mission subsystems via a Military Standard 1553B bus. An onboard computer provides laser ranging and target location within 10m.
Countermeasures.
The countermeasures suit includes an AN/ALQ-144 infared jammer, radar warning receivers against pulsed and continuous wave radars and a laser warning detector.
Fire Control and Observation.
The distinctive Mast Mounted Site(MMS) from Boeing, situated above the rotor blades, enable the Kiowa Warrior to operate by day and night and to engage the enemy at maximum range of the weapons system with the least exposure possible. The MMS contains sensors which includes: A high resolution T.V. camera for long range target detections; a thermal imaging sensor for navigation; target acquisition and designation; a laser rangefinder/designator for Copperhead artillery rounds and a boresight assembly which provides in-flight sensor alignment. The laser rangefinder/designator is also employed for handoff to an AH-1 Cobra for TOW missle engagements.
Navigations & Communications.
The U.S.Army OH-58D is equipped with an attitude heading reference system from Litton & and an integrated G.P.S. & internal navigation system, GPS/INS. A data loading module allows the premission storing of navigation waypoint data and radio frequencies. The mission eqipment includes an Improved Data Modem for Digital Battlefield Communications, (IDMDBC). The communications system is based on the have-quick UHF and SINCGARS FM anit-jam radio.
The Engine.
The Kiowa is equipped with a model 250 485kW turbine enging from Rolls-Royce. The transmission has a transient power level of 475kW. The engine and transmission system have been upgraded ro provide high performance levels in high temperatures and extreme climates.
This page is dedicated to my brother. He is a W.O. in the U.S. Army, and right now flies the K.W. OH58D. He is proud of his job, proud of his family and proud to serve his country.
T'was two weeks before Christmas, And all through Iraq, The people still worried that Saddam would be back. The soldiers went out on their nightly patrol, Capturing the bad guys was always their goal!
With raids seeming endless in the triangle Sunni, We hoped that not all of Iraq was so looney! We gathered the tribe of Saddam, in Tikrit, And suddenly now they all started to snit!
They told of a farm where Hussein just might be Odierno then called on our boys- from the great 4th ID! More rapid than Baathists our soldiers they came, And he whistled and shouted and called them by name
Now Delta, Now Rangers, Now Cavalry too! On Green Hats, on Pilots, I need all of you! Go to that farm and secure it right now! Capture his ass- you guys know how!
Off went our soldiers under cover of night, So stealthy, so quiet with no trace of light While we back at home were eating our lunches, Our boys on the ground were following hunches!
And then it was time for the raid to begin. The first target came up -empty within! Could it be our intel was wrong once again? No! Somewhere nearby is the wolf in his den!
And then, in a twinkling, camouflage torn away In a hole in the ground did their quarry lay Dazed and confused, right at them he looked, Did the stupid old fool know his goose was now cooked?
He was dressed all in rags from his toes to his head, And his beard was as matted as 12 day-old bread! How the mighty had fallen, could this be Hussein? One look in his eyes was to know he's insane!
Our boys got their man - how proud we all are The relief in our country is felt near and far A bath he has had now -yet he'll never be clean Forever tainted with mass torture and his Fedayeen
To our soldiers we give our undying respect You always give more than we ever expect We hope you can have now a night with some fun Your loved ones back home say- JOB DAMN WELL DONE!
Deborah Sandberg
Proud Army Mom (101st Airborne Division) 14 December 2003
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