$30.4M for OH-58D Upgrades
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“Comanche’s Child: The ARH-70 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter” discusses the USa’s OH-58D fleet:
“The USA’s Kiowa Warrior fleet has accumulated well over 1.1 million flight hours, including over 200,000 combat flight hours. Aviation News reported that as of April 2006, 28 OH-58Ds had been lost to accidents, age, and enemy fire during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The Army says it needs 368 Kiowas within its force structure, but fewer than 350 now remain in inventory. This number will continue to decline, as wear and attrition take their toll.”
As the US Army waits for the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter to arrive in whatever form, the OH-58D fleet will have to be maintained and enhanced in order to keep them in the air. Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. in Hurst, TX received a $30.4 million firm-fixed price contract for supplies and services. These will be used “for application of safety enhancement lot program into the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior aircraft.” Work will be performed in Hurst, TX and is expected to be complete by Feb 28/10. One bid was solicited on March 24/04 by the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-04C-0123).
