Army-Led Initiative To Upgrade Rather Than Replace Vietnam-Era Aircraft

The U.S. Army planned a flight demonstration Tuesday of an upgraded OH-58 Kiowa Warrior that could save U.S. taxpayers some $600 million over the next several years.

The Army led an initiative with Bell Helicopter and Honeywell to build its own prototype aircraft in two years. Reuters reports that Army Colonel Robert Grigsby, project manager for armed scout helicopters, said "we've taken the best of everything and tried to package it into an aircraft as quickly as possible and get it out there ... to the force at considerable savings to the U.S. government and the U.S. taxpayer."

The prototype aircraft trims 160 pounds from the gross weight of a standard OH-58, as well as giving the aircraft a new common sensor and upgrading cockpit displays. By working as the "lead system integrator," the Army owns the technical rights to the new model, designated "F", and will conduct its own integration work.

The upgrade to the F-model would require the replacement of about 60 percent of the airframes of the Kiowa Warrior, but officials said that the service life would not be extended by the process

The aircraft first flew last Friday, according to the report. a total of 368 helicopters are slated for the upgrades by 2025. A major Pentagon review will be conducted in March of 2015 before moving into full production.

The Army had hoped to open a competition for a new helicopter to eventually replace the Vietnam-era Kiowa Warrior, but pressure on the military budget has placed that competition in doubt.

(Kiowa Warrior pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.army.mil