Editing Bell OH-58 Kiowa (section)

=== Afghanistan and Iraq ===
[[File:U.S Army OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter at Kandahar Airfield MOD 45162023.jpg|thumb|left|OH-58D at [[Kandahar International Airport#21st century|Kandahar]], 2011]]
[[File:OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters are covered in snow at Bagram Airfield in Parwan province, Afghanistan, Feb. 3, 2013 130203-A-IA071-001.jpg|thumb|Group of Kiowa Warriors covered by snow at [[Bagram Air Base]], 2013]]

The U.S. Army employed the OH-58D during [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]] in [[Iraq]] and [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in [[Afghanistan]].<ref name="army-technology.com">{{cite web |url= http://www.army-technology.com/projects/kiowa/ |title= OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Reconnaissance / Attack Helicopter, USA |date= 27 November 2007 |publisher= SPG Media Limited |access-date= 4 August 2008 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080704130109/http://www.army-technology.com/projects/kiowa/ |archive-date= 4 July 2008 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1= Sayah |first1= Reza |first2= Barbara |last2= Starr |first3= Jamie |last3= McIntyre |url= http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/25/pakistan.helicopters/index.html |title= U.S., Pakistan exchange shots at volatile border |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090122054232/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/09/25/pakistan.helicopters/index.html |archive-date= 22 January 2009 |publisher= CNN.com |date= 25 September 2008 |access-date= 15 January 2009}}</ref> Between a combination of combat and accidents, over 35 airframes have been lost, resulting in the deaths of 35 pilots.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Hastings |first= Michael |title= America's New Cavalry |journal= [[Men's Journal]] |date= September 2010 |page= 128}}</ref> Their presence was also anecdotally credited with saving lives, having been used to rescue wounded despite their small size.<ref>{{cite web |last= Thackary |first= Lorna |url= http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/injured-red-lodge-soldier-recounts-blast-dramatic-rescue-in-afghanistan/article_0f02b1da-4a8c-11df-a274-001cc4c03286.html |title= Injured Red Lodge soldier recounts blast, dramatic rescue in Afghanistan |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130608043416/http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/injured-red-lodge-soldier-recounts-blast-dramatic-rescue-in-afghanistan/article_0f02b1da-4a8c-11df-a274-001cc4c03286.html |archive-date= 8 June 2013 |publisher= BillingsGazette.com |date= 18 April 2010 |access-date= 31 May 2013}}</ref> In Iraq, OH-58Ds reportedly flew 72 hours per month, while in Afghanistan, the type flew 80 hours per month.<ref name="hours">{{cite web |url= http://strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20130514.aspx |title= Another Old Warrior Too Good To Replace |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130516110308/http://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20130514.aspx |archive-date= 16 May 2013 |publisher= Strategypage.com |date= 14 May 2013}}</ref> During April 2013, Bell stated that the OH-58 collectively accumulated 820,000 combat hours, and had achieved a 90% mission capable rate.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://investor.textron.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=110047&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1806238 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20131208220820/http://investor.textron.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=110047&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1806238 |archive-date= 8 December 2013 |title= Bell Helicopter Provides OH-58 Kiowa Warrior Program Update |publisher= Bell/Textron |date= 12 April 2013 |access-date= 8 December 2013}}</ref>