Editing Bell OH-58 Kiowa (section)

===OH-58A===
[[File:Oh58-004.jpg|thumb|right|An OH-58 Kiowa]]

The ''OH-58A Kiowa'' is a four-place observation helicopter. It has two-place pilot seating, although the controls in the left seat are designed to be removed to carry a passenger up front. During its Vietnam development, it was fitted with the [[Minigun|M134 Minigun]], a 7.62&nbsp;mm electrically operated machine gun.

The [[Australian Army]] leased eight OH-58As in 1971 in Vietnam for eight months.<ref name="161rf">{{cite web |title= History of Bell OH58-A Kiowa Helicopter |url= http://www.161recceflt.org.au/UnitAircraft/Kiowa/history_of_bell_oh58.htm |website= 161 Possums formerly 161 Recce Association |access-date= 8 August 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010302151730/http://www.161recceflt.org.au/UnitAircraft/Kiowa/history_of_bell_oh58.htm |archive-date= 2 March 2001}}</ref><ref name="ADF">{{cite web |title= Army A17 & RAN N17 Bell 206B-1/OH-58A & CAC CA-32 Kiowa |url= http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a17.htm |website= Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History |access-date= 8 August 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160819231724/http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a17.htm |archive-date= 19 August 2016 |url-status= dead}}</ref> The Australian Government procured the OH-58A for the Australian Army and [[Royal Australian Navy]] as the ''CAC CA-32''.<ref name="ADF" /><ref name="RAAF" /> Licensed produced in Australia by [[Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation]], the CA-32 was the equivalent of the 206B-1 (uprated engine and longer rotor blades). The first twelve of 56 were built in the U.S. then partially disassembled and shipped to Australia, where they were reassembled.<ref name="161rf" /> Helicopters in the naval fleet were retired in 2000.<ref name="161rf" />

A total of 74 OH-58As were delivered to the Canadian Armed Forces as ''COH-58A'' and later redesignated ''CH-136 Kiowa''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/historical/kiowalst_e.asp |title= Bell CH-136 Kiowa |date= 15 April 2004 |publisher= Air Force Public Affairs, Department of National Defence |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040505052337/http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/historical/kiowalst_e.asp |archive-date= 5 May 2004}}</ref> As many as 12 surplus Kiowas were sold to the Dominican Republic Air Force, and others sold privately in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/771/ |title= CH-136 Kiowa in Canadian Armed Forces |work= helis.com |access-date= 11 December 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220121922/http://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/771/ |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

In 1978, OH-58As began to be converted to the same engine and dynamic components as the OH-58C.<ref name="cmh-1978">{{cite web |url= http://www.army.mil/CMH/books/DAHSUM/1978/ch10.htm |title= Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1978 |publisher= United States Army Center of Military History |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040908141656/http://www.army.mil/cmh/books/DAHSUM/1978/ch10.htm |archive-date= 8 September 2004}}</ref> In 1992, 76 OH-58A were modified with another engine upgrade, a [[thermal imaging]] system, a communications package for law enforcement, enhanced navigational equipment and high skid gear as part of the Army National Guard's (ARNG) Counter-Drug RAID program. The U.S. Army retired its last OH-58A in November 2017.<ref name="theredstonerocket.com">{{Cite web |url= https://www.theredstonerocket.com/military_scene/article_2c96db4c-befe-11e7-8d65-6bca558698bd.html |title= Last Kiowa Warrior retires into law enforcement |first= Kari |last= Hawkins |publisher= AWKINS Aviation and Missile Command Public Affairs |website= The Redstone Rocket |date= November 2017 |access-date= 2 July 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190702140010/https://www.theredstonerocket.com/military_scene/article_2c96db4c-befe-11e7-8d65-6bca558698bd.html |archive-date= 2 July 2019 |url-status= live}}</ref>