Editing Bell OH-58 Kiowa (section)

===OH-58F Block II===
[[File:OH-58X.jpg|thumb|right|OH-58X, a modified OH-58D prototype. Note nose, pitch link cover and engine cowl area.]]

On 14 April 2011, Bell performed the successful first flight of the OH-58F Block II variant. It was Bell's entry in the [[Armed Aerial Scout]] (AAS) program.<ref>[http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,229853,00.html Bell Flies OH-58 Block II Candidate for AAS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121208145108/http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,229853,00.html |date=8 December 2012}} Military.com, 19 April 2011</ref> It built on the improvements of the F-model, adding features such as the [[Honeywell HTS900]] turboshaft engine, the transmission and main rotors of the [[Bell 407]], and the tail and tail rotor of the [[Bell 427]]. Bell started flight demonstrations in October 2012.<ref>[http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ausa-bell-starts-oh-58-block-ii-flight-demo-377946/ Bell starts OH-58 Block II flight demo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419111303/http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ausa-bell-starts-oh-58-block-ii-flight-demo-377946/ |date=19 April 2013}} Flightglobal.com, 23 October 2012</ref> Bell hoped for the Army to go with their service life extension models instead of the AAS program. The OH-58F is an "obsolescence upgrade", while the Block II was seen as the performance upgrade. This gave the Army financial flexibility via the option of upgrading the Kiowa to the OH-58F and later continuing to the Block II when there were sufficient funds.<ref>[http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2012/December/Pages/ScoutHelicopterCompetitorstoArmyIt’sTimeforaFlyoff.aspx Scout Helicopter Competitors to Army: It’s Time for a Flyoff] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130415183548/http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/archive/2012/December/Pages/ScoutHelicopterCompetitorstoArmyIt%E2%80%99sTimeforaFlyoff.aspx |date=15 April 2013}} – Nationaldefensemagazine.com, December 2012</ref> In late 2012, the Army recommended that the AAS program proceed.<ref name="aas forward"/><ref name=AW_slep/> The Army ended the AAS program in late 2013.<ref>[http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140114/DEFREG02/301140036/Outgoing-General-US-Army-Must-Continue-Fund-Research-Development Outgoing General: US Army Must Continue To Fund Research and Development] {{Webarchive|url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20140117033719/http%3A//www.defensenews.com/article/20140114/DEFREG02/301140036/Outgoing%2DGeneral%2DUS%2DArmy%2DMust%2DContinue%2DFund%2DResearch%2DDevelopment |date=17 January 2014}} – Defensenews.com, 14 January 2014</ref> In light of sequestration budget cuts in 2013, it was decided that the $16 billion cost to buy new armed scout helicopters was too great.<ref name="ndm14jan14"/>