Editing Bell OH-58 Kiowa (section)

===Retirement===
The U.S. Army's first attempt to replace the OH-58 was the [[RAH-66 Comanche]] of the [[Light Helicopter Experimental]] program, which was canceled in 2004. Airframe age and losses led to the Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter program and the [[Bell ARH-70]], which was canceled in 2008 due to cost overruns. The third replacement effort was the [[Armed Aerial Scout]] program.<ref name="aas forward">{{cite web |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-army-helicopter-idUSBRE8B002T20121201?feedType=RSS&feedName=everything&virtualBrandChannel=11563 |title= U.S. Army officials said to back new scout helicopter |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150924172340/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/01/us-army-helicopter-idUSBRE8B002T20121201?feedType=RSS&feedName=everything&virtualBrandChannel=11563 |archive-date= 24 September 2015 |publisher= Reuters.com |date= 30 November 2012}}</ref> Due to uncertainty in the AAS program and fiscal restraints, the OH-58F's planned retirement was extended from 2025 to 2036.<ref name=AW_slep>{{cite web |url= http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/awx_05_10_2013_p0-577834.xml&p=1 |title= U.S. Army Confirms AAS Will Be New Start Or OH-58 SLEP |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061621/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=%2Farticle-xml%2Fawx_05_10_2013_p0-577834.xml&p=1 |archive-date= 23 October 2013 |publisher= Aviationweek.com |date= 10 May 2013}}</ref> The Kiowa's scout role was supplemented by tactical [[unmanned aerial vehicles]], the two platforms often acting in conjunction to provide reconnaissance to expose crews to less risk. The OH-58F had the ability to control UAVs directly to safely perform scout missions.<ref name="hours"/> In 2011, the Kiowa was scheduled to be replaced by the light version of the [[Future Vertical Lift]] aircraft in the 2030s.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/superfast-helicopters/ |title= Superfast Helicopters |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130331104148/http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/superfast-helicopters/ |archive-date= 31 March 2013 |publisher= Defensemedianetwork.com |date= 25 October 2011}}</ref>

[[File:OH-58D Final Farewell Flight 160415-A-UG106-017.jpg|thumb|After 40 years of service, the final flight of the OH-58D of the 82nd Airborne Division in 2016 at Fort Bragg, on the flight line]]
[[File:OH-58D Final Farewell Flight 160415-A-UG106-043.jpg|thumb|The OH-58D's farewell flight]]
In December 2013, the U.S. Army had 338 Kiowas in its active-duty force and 30 in the [[Army National Guard]]. The Army considered retiring the Kiowa as part of a wider restructuring to cut costs and reduce the variety of helicopters operated. The [[Analysis of Alternatives]] for the AAS program found that operating the Kiowa alongside [[RQ-7 Shadow]] UAVs was the most affordable and capable solution, while the [[AH-64 Apache|AH-64E Apache Guardian]] was the most capable immediate solution. One proposal was to transfer all Army National Guard and [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]] AH-64s to the active Army for use as scouts to divest the OH-58. The Apache costs 50 percent more than the Kiowa to operate and maintain; studies note that had it been used in place of the Kiowa in Iraq and Afghanistan, total operating costs would have risen by $4 billion, but also saved $1 billion per year in operating and sustainment costs. [[UH-60 Black Hawk]]s would transfer from the active Army to reserve and Guard units. The aim was to retire older helicopters and retain those with the best capabilities to save money.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20131209/NEWS04/312090006/ |title= Army Plans To Scrap Kiowa Helo Fleet |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131214181334/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20131209/NEWS04/312090006/ |archive-date= 14 December 2013 |publisher= MarineCorpstimes.com |date= 9 December 2013}}</ref> Retiring the Kiowa would fund Apache upgrades.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.army.mil/article/118247/Army_aviation_flying_smarter_into_fiscal_squeeze/ |title= Army aviation flying smarter into fiscal squeeze |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140124212952/http://www.army.mil/article/118247/Army_aviation_flying_smarter_into_fiscal_squeeze/ |archive-date= 24 January 2014 |publisher= Army.mil |url-status= live |date= 14 January 2014}}</ref>

The Army placed 26 out of 335 OH-58Ds in non-flyable storage during 2014. In anticipation of divestment, the Army looked to see if other military branches, government agencies, and foreign customers had interest in buying the type. The Kiowas were considered to be well priced for foreign countries with limited resources; Bell had not yet agreed to support them if sold overseas.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-begins-grounding-kiowas-seeks-buyers-399003/ |title= US Army begins grounding Kiowas, seeks buyers |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140508061435/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-begins-grounding-kiowas-seeks-buyers-399003/ |archive-date= 8 May 2014 |publisher= Flightglobal.com |date= 7 May 2014}}</ref> Media expected OH-58s to go to foreign militaries rather than civil operators due to high operating cost.<ref name=pat>{{cite news |first= Pat |last= Host |url= http://accessintelligence.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vrw15/i452/p38 |title= Army's aviation restructuring not to affect civil helicopter market |pages= 38–42 |work= Rotor & Wing |date= April 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150412231232/http://accessintelligence.imirus.com/Mpowered/book/vrw15/i452/p38 |archive-date= 12 April 2015 |url-status= dead}}</ref> By 2015, the Army had divested 33 OH-58Ds.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/downsized-us-army-to-pass-on-533-shunned-oh-58-th-67-414435/ |title= Downsized US Army to pass on 533 shunned OH-58, TH-67 helicopters |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150717124813/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/downsized-us-army-to-pass-on-533-shunned-oh-58-th-67-414435/ |archive-date= 17 July 2015}}</ref> By January 2016, the Army had divested all but two OH-58D squadrons.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-forging-ahead-with-oh-58d-and-th-67-retireme-420836/ |title= US Army forging ahead with OH-58D and TH-67 retirements |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160215093312/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-army-forging-ahead-with-oh-58d-and-th-67-retireme-420836/ |archive-date= 15 February 2016 |publisher= Flightglobal.com |date= 14 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="60 Kiowa">{{cite news |last1= Brooks |first1= Drew |title= Army's Kiowa helicopters to fly in last formation |url= http://www.fayobserver.com/news/local/army-s-kiowa-helicopters-to-fly-in-last-formation/article_025c791e-9611-5ddb-9050-e8d028975401.html |access-date= 2 June 2016 |work= The Fayetteville Observer |date= 12 April 2016 |quote= Nearly three years after defense officials first proposed eliminating the small aircraft from the Army's aviation, all but two squadrons – each flying 30 helicopters – have bid adieu to the Kiowa}}</ref> In June 2016, members of 1st Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, [[82nd Aviation Regiment (United States)|82nd Combat Aviation Brigade]], arrived in South Korea as part of the Kiowa's last deployment in U.S. Army service;<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/2016/06/26/final-deployment-underway-armys-kiowa-helicopters/86347834/ |title= Final deployment is underway for Army's Kiowa helicopters |publisher= Armytimes.com |date= 26 June 2016}}</ref> during the following year, the unit reequipped with AH-64s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sisk |first=Richard |date=2017-10-31 |title=Army's Last Kiowa Scout Helicopter Squadron Switching to Apaches |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2016/09/19/armys-last-kiowa-scout-helicopter-squadron-switching-to-apaches.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Military.com |language=en}}</ref> In January 2017, the last Kiowa Warrior performed their last live fire maneuver before retirement.<ref name="retired">{{cite news |title= Kiowa Warriors pass torch to Apache attack helicopters in South Korea |url= https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/kiowa-warriors-pass-torch-to-apache-attack-helicopters-in-south-korea-1.450886#.WRZUIuXyvic |access-date= 13 May 2017 |work= Stars and Stripes |date= 26 January 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170525180404/https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/kiowa-warriors-pass-torch-to-apache-attack-helicopters-in-south-korea-1.450886#.WRZUIuXyvic |archive-date= 25 May 2017 |url-status= live}}</ref>

Ex-U.S. Army OH-58Ds were made available through Excess Defense Article and [[foreign military sales]] (FMS) programs. In November 2014, Croatia sent a letter of intent for the acquisition of 16 OH-58Ds.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jutarnji.hr/jutarnji-doznaje--ministar-kotromanovic-pisao-pentagonu-hrvatska-trazi-od-sad-a-16-borbenih-letjelica-/1236155/ |title= KOTROMANOVIĆ PISAO PENTAGONU Hrvatska traži od SAD-a 16 borbenih letjelica |work= jutarnji.hr |access-date= 2 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223237/http://www.jutarnji.hr/jutarnji-doznaje--ministar-kotromanovic-pisao-pentagonu-hrvatska-trazi-od-sad-a-16-borbenih-letjelica-/1236155/ |archive-date= 3 March 2016 |url-status= live}}</ref> In 2016, Croatia and Tunisia became the first nations to request the helicopters, ordering 16 and 24, respectively.<ref name=FMS_sales>{{cite web |url= http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-06-06/croatia-tunisia-first-receive-us-kiowa-warriors |title= Croatia, Tunisia First To Receive U.S. Kiowa Warriors |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160610115711/http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2016-06-06/croatia-tunisia-first-receive-us-kiowa-warriors |archive-date= 10 June 2016 |publisher= Ainonline.com |date= 6 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/tunisia-oh-58d-kiowa-warrior-aircraft-equipment-and-support |title= Tunisia-OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Aircraft Equipment and Support |publisher= dsca.mil |date= 3 May 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160617223348/http://dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/tunisia-oh-58d-kiowa-warrior-aircraft-equipment-and-support |archive-date= 17 June 2016 |url-status= dead}}</ref> Croatia received the first batch of 5 OH-58Ds at the [[Zadar Airport|Zadar-Zemunik air base]] on 30 June 2016.<ref name="CroatiaFirstDeliveryFlightGlobal">{{cite web |last1= Salinger |first1= Igor |title= First ex-US Army OH-58Ds delivered to Croatia |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/first-ex-us-army-oh-58ds-delivered-to-croatia-428121/ |website= FlightGlobal |date= 2 August 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160802232121/https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/first-ex-us-army-oh-58ds-delivered-to-croatia-428121/ |archive-date= 2 August 2016 |url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="CroatiaFirstDeliveryIHS">{{cite web |last1= Tabak |first1= Igor |title= Croatia receives first OH-58 Kiowa helicopters|url= http://www.janes.com/article/62690/croatia-receives-first-oh-58-kiowa-helicopters |website= IHS Jane's 360 |date= 2 August 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160802205845/http://www.janes.com/article/62690/croatia-receives-first-oh-58-kiowa-helicopters |archive-date= 2 August 2016 |url-status= live}}</ref> In early 2018, Greece was granted 70 OH-58Ds via an FMS arrangement, the type has been initially stationed at Hellenic Army Aviation air base at [[Stefanovikio]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.businessinsider.com/army-workhorse-oh-58-kiowa-helicopter-flying-again-for-greece-2019-12?r=US&IR=T |title= After nearly 50 years as the Army's workhorse, the venerable Kiowa helicopter is taking flight again for Greece |publisher= businessinsider.com |first= Richard |last= Bumgardner |date= 13 December 2019}}</ref>

In March 2020, the U.S. Army selected the [[Bell 360 Invictus]] and [[Sikorsky Raider X]] as part of the [[Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft]] (FARA) program to fill the capability gap left by the retirement of the OH-58.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-03-25/bell-sikorsky-move-next-round-armys-fara-derby |title= Bell, Sikorsky Move On To Next Round of Army's FARA Derby |publisher= Aviation International News |date= 25 March 2020 |archive-date= 27 March 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200327025227/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2020-03-25/bell-sikorsky-move-next-round-armys-fara-derby |url-status= dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.defensenews.com/smr/army-modernization/2020/03/25/lockheed-and-bell-will-compete-head-to-head-to-build-us-armys-future-attack-recon-aircraft/ |title= Lockheed and Bell will compete head-to-head to build US Army's future attack recon aircraft |publisher= Defense News |date= 26 March 2020}}</ref> On 9 July 2020, the US Army retired its last OH-58Cs from active service at [[Fort Polk]].<ref name="Cannon14Jul20"/> In February 2024, FARA was cancelled; by this point, there were three abandoned attempts to replace the OH-58 at a cost in excess of $9 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schogol |first=Jeff |date=2024-02-09 |title=Army cancels armed scout helicopter program yet again |url=https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-armed-scout-helicopter/ |website=Task & Purpose |language=en-US}}</ref> The armed scout role has been filled by the AH-64 and the unarmed [[AAI RQ-7 Shadow|RQ-7 Shadow]] UAV;<ref name=forcastint/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Judson |first=Jen |date=2024-02-08 |title=US Army spent billions on a new helicopter that now will never fly |url=https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/02/08/us-army-spent-billions-on-a-new-helicopter-that-now-will-never-fly/ |website=Defense News |language=en}}</ref> this combination reportedly accomplished 80% of the scouting mission, while also providing greater firepower, durability, and speed.<ref name="ndm14jan14" /><ref name=":0" />