Editing Bell OH-58 Kiowa (section)

==Operational history==
In May 1969, the first OH-58A Kiowa was officially received at a ceremony held at Bell Helicopter's Fort Worth plant, officiated by Major General [[John Norton (soldier)|John Norton]], commanding general of the Army Aviation Materiel Command (AMCOM).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.quad-a.org/Hall_of_Fame/personnel/norton.htm |title= Army Aviation Hall of Fame: Lieutenant General John Norton |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090814215925/http://www.quad-a.org/Hall_of_Fame/personnel/norton.htm |archive-date= 14 August 2009 |publisher= Army Aviation Association of America |access-date= 22 October 2008}}</ref> Two months later, on 17 August 1969, production OH-58A helicopters arrived in [[South Vietnam]] for the first time;<ref>{{cite web |url= http://tri.army.mil/LC/CS/csa/aahist2.htm |title= Historic U.S. Army Helicopters |date= 5 October 2005 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030212203929/http://tri.army.mil/lc/cs/csa/aahist2.htm |archive-date= 12 February 2003}}</ref> their deployment was accompanied by a New Equipment Training Team (NETT) comprising personnel from both the US Army and Bell Helicopters.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.flyarmy.org/panel/battle/69062700.HTM |title= Bell Helicopter News information |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081208161654/http://www.flyarmy.org/panel/battle/69062700.HTM |archive-date= 8 December 2008 |publisher= Vietnam Helicopter Pilot's Association |access-date= 22 October 2008}}</ref> Although the Kiowa production contract had replaced the LOH contract with Hughes, the OH-58A did not automatically replace the OH-6A in operations; subsequently, the Kiowa and the Cayuse would continue operating in the same theater until the end of the conflict.

===Vietnam War===
[[File:Australian Army Bell OH-58A Kiowa.jpg|thumb|right|Australian Army OH-58A in South Vietnam, December 1971]]

On 27 March 1970, an OH-58A Kiowa (s/n 68-16785) was shot down over South Vietnam, one of the first OH-58A losses of the war. The pilot, [[Warrant Officer (United States)|Warrant Officer]] Ralph Quick Jr., was flying [[Lieutenant Colonel]] Joseph Benoski Jr. as an artillery spotter. After completing a battle damage assessment for a previous fire mission, the aircraft was damaged by .51 inch (13&nbsp;mm) machine gun fire and crashed, killing both crew members. Approximately 45 OH-58A helicopters were destroyed during the [[Vietnam War]] due to combat losses and accidents.<ref>{{cite web |last= Roush |first= Gary |url= http://www.vhpa.org/heliloss.pdf |title= Helicopter Losses During the Vietnam War |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081029002005/http://www.vhpa.org/heliloss.pdf |archive-date= 29 October 2008 |date= 29 October 2008 |publisher= VHPA.org |access-date= 4 January 2009}}</ref> One of the last combat losses in the theatre was of an OH-58A (s/n 68-16888) from [[17th Cavalry Regiment (United States)#Units|A Troop, 3-17th Cavalry]], flown by [[First Lieutenant]] Thomas Knuckey. On 27 May 1971, Lieutenant Knuckey was also flying a battle damage assessment mission when his aircraft came under machine gun fire and exploded. Knuckey and his observer, [[Sergeant]] Philip Taylor, both died in the explosion.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.armyaircrews.com/kiowa_nam.html |title= Kiowa crewmember line of duty deaths |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081231224422/http://www.armyaircrews.com/kiowa_nam.html |archive-date= 31 December 2008 |date= 31 December 2008 |publisher= armyaircrews.com |access-date= 4 January 2009}}</ref>

===Operation Prime Chance===
During early 1988, it was decided that armed OH-58D (AHIP) helicopters from the 118th Aviation Task Force would be phased in to replace the SEABAT ([[MH-6 Little Bird|AH-6/MH-6]]) teams of [[160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment|Task Force 160th]] to carry out [[Operation Prime Chance]], the escort of oil tankers during the [[Iran–Iraq War]]. On 24 February 1988, two AHIP helicopters reported to the Mobile Sea Base Wimbrown VII, and the helicopter team ("SEABAT" team after their callsign) stationed on the barge returned to the United States. For the next few months, the AHIP helicopters on the Wimbrown VII shared patrol duties with the SEABAT team on the Hercules. Coordination proved difficult, despite frequent requests from TF-160, the SEABAT team on the Hercules was not replaced by an AHIP detachment until June 1988.<ref name="160-1">{{cite web |url= http://www.nightstalkers.com/history/4.html |archive-url= https://archive.today/20020615003730/http://www.nightstalkers.com/history/4.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 15 June 2002 |title= Operations EARNEST WILL and PRIME CHANCE |access-date= 25 March 2007 |work= Night Stalker History}}</ref> The OH-58D helicopter crews involved in the operation received deck landing and underwater survival training from the Navy.

In November 1988, the number of OH-58D helicopters that supported Task Force 118 was reduced. However, the rotorcraft continued to operate from the Navy's Mobile Sea Base ''Hercules'', the frigate ''[[USS Underwood (FFG-36)|Underwood]]'', and the destroyer ''[[USS Conolly (DD-979)|Conolly]]''. OH-58D operations primarily entailed reconnaissance flights at night, and depending on maintenance requirements and ship scheduling, Army helicopters usually rotated from the mobile sea base and other combatant ships to a land base every seven to fourteen days. On 18 September 1989, an OH-58D crashed during night gunnery practice and sank, but with no loss of personnel. When the Mobile Sea Base Hercules was deactivated in September 1989, all but five OH-58D helicopters redeployed to the continental United States.<ref name="cmh-1">{{cite book |chapter-url= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1989/CH6.htm |chapter= 6. Operations |title= Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1989 |url= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1989/Index.htm#TOC |publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History]] |year= 1998 |first= Vincent H. |last= Demma |access-date= 25 March 2007 |id= CMH Pub 101-21 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071214152047/http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1989/Index.htm#TOC |archive-date= 14 December 2007 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

===Gulf War===
During [[Operation Desert Shield]] (the build-up to [[Operation Desert Storm]]) U.S. Army OH-58Ds would exercise alongside USMC AH-1Ws and assist with targeting and laser spotting. However while this tactic worked and was effective, there is little evidence that this tactic was used, likely to a lack of OD-58Ds.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Gulf War - Air Power Survey, Volume IV - Weapons, Tactics, and Training |url=https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/27/2001329817/-1/-1/0/AFD-100927-066.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820100750/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/27/2001329817/-1/-1/0/AFD-100927-066.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 August 2019 |access-date=9 August 2024 |website=U.S. Department of Defense |pages=232–233}}</ref>
[[File:AH-64A Apache advanced attack and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters of the 101st Airborne Division stand ready at a forward operating base during Operation Desert Storm. - DPLA - a2c75825eac68d1eac450c8079f64ed0.jpg|thumb|right|AH-64A Apache attack and OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters of the 101st Airborne Division at a forward operating base during Operation Desert Storm]]

During Operation Desert Storm, 130 deployed OH-58D helicopters worked alongside the other Army attack helicopters, 145 [[Bell AH-1 Cobra|AH-1 Cobras]] and 277 [[Boeing AH-64 Apache|AH-64 Apaches]],<ref name=":1" /> and participated in a wide variety of critical combat ground forces mission. During [[Operation Desert Shield]] and [[Operation Desert Storm]], the Kiowas collectively flew nearly 9,000 hours with a 92 percent fully mission capable rate. The Kiowa Warrior had the lowest ratio of maintenance hours to flight hours of any combat helicopter in the war.<ref>{{cite web |title= The End of an Era: OH-58 Kiowa |url= https://www.dvidshub.net/news/204642/end-era-oh-58-kiowa |website= dvidshub.net}}</ref>

Army attack helicopters also worked [[Combined arms|jointly with]] close air support and support aircraft such as the USAF [[A-10A]]s, [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16A/Cs]], [[General Dynamics–Grumman EF-111A Raven|EF-111As]], [[Lockheed EC-130H Compass Call|EC-130H Compass Call]], [[F-4G Phantom II]] "[[Wild Weasel]]", and [[Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS|E-8 Joint STARS]].<ref name=":1" />

===RAID===
In 1989, Congress mandated that the [[Army National Guard]] would take part in the country's ''[[War on Drugs]]'', enabling them to aid federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with "special congressional entitlements". In response, the Army [[National Guard Bureau]] created the Reconnaissance and Aerial Interdiction Detachments (RAID) in 1992, consisting of aviation units in 31 states with 76 specially modified OH-58A helicopters to assume the reconnaissance/interdiction role in the fight against illegal drugs. During 1994, 24 states conducted more than 1,200 aerial counterdrug reconnaissance and interdiction missions, conducting many of these missions at night.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1994/ch05.htm |chapter= 5. Reserve Forces |url= http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1994/index.htm#contents |first= L. Martin |last= Kaplan |year= 2000 |title= Department of the Army Historical Summary, 1994 |publisher= [[United States Army Center of Military History]] |id= CMH Pub 101-25 |access-date= 30 June 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100921172454/http://www.history.army.mil/books/DAHSUM/1994/index.htm#contents |archive-date= 21 September 2010 |url-status= dead}}</ref> Eventually, the program was expanded to cover 32 states and consisting of 116 aircraft, including dedicated training aircraft at the Western Army Aviation Training Site (WAATS) in [[Marana, Arizona]].<ref name="raid-rw">{{cite web |url= http://www.aviationtoday.com/cgi/rw/show_mag.cgi?pub%3Drw%26mon%3D1102%26file%3D1102home.htm |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040228180331/http://aviationtoday.com/cgi/rw/show_mag.cgi?pub=rw&mon=1102&file=1102home.htm |url-status= dead |archive-date= 28 February 2004 |title= Homeland Defense: Fighting Homeland Wars |first= Doug |last= Nelms |date= 1 November 2002 |publisher= Rotor & Wing via aviationtoday.com |access-date= 2 October 2016}}</ref>

The RAID program's mission has now been expanded to include the war against terrorism and supporting [[U.S. Border Patrol]] activities in support of homeland defense. The National Guard RAID units' Area of Operation (AO) is the only one in the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] that is wholly contained within the borders of the [[United States]].<ref name="raid-rw"/>

===Operation Just Cause and action in the 1990s===
During [[United States invasion of Panama|Operation Just Cause]] in 1989, a team consisting of an OH-58 and an AH-1 were part of the Aviation Task Force during the securing of [[Fort Amador]] in [[Panama]]. The OH-58 was fired upon by [[Military of Panama|Panama Defense Force]] soldiers and crashed {{convert|100|yd|m|sigfig=1}} away, in the [[Bay of Panama]]. The pilot was rescued, but the co-pilot was killed in action.<ref>{{cite book |url= http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Just%20Cause/JustCause.htm |title= Operation Just Cause: The Incursion into Panama |publisher= United States Army Center of Military History |access-date= 1 September 2006 |id= CMH Pub No. 70-85-1 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071213124514/http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/Just%20Cause/JustCause.htm |archive-date= 13 December 2007 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

On 17 December 1994, Army [[Warrant Officer (United States)#Army|Chief Warrant Officer]]s (CWO) David Hilemon and Bobby Hall left Camp Page, [[South Korea]] on a routine training mission along the [[Korean Demilitarized Zone|Demilitarized Zone]] (DMZ). Their flight was intended to be to a point known as Checkpoint 84, south of the DMZ "no-fly zone", but the OH-58C Kiowa strayed nearly {{convert|4|mi|km|spell=in|sigfig=1}} into the Kangwon Province, inside [[North Korea]]n airspace, due to errors in navigating the snow-covered, rugged terrain. The helicopter was shot down by North Korean troops and CWO Hilemon was killed. CWO Hall was held captive and the North Korean government insisted that the crew had been spying. Five days of negotiations resulted in the North Koreans turning over Hilemon's body to U.S. authorities. The negotiations failed to secure Hall's immediate release. After 13 days in captivity, Hall was freed on 30 December, uninjured.<ref>{{cite web |author= Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs). |url= http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=317 |title= OH-58C Helicopter Down in North Korea |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070515041754/http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=317 |archive-date= 15 May 2007 |publisher= United States Department of Defense |date= 19 December 1994 |access-date= 30 December 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Miles |first= Donna |url= http://www.army.mil/soldiers/feb95/p4.html |title= Drama Along the DMZ |publisher= Soldiers |date= 4–5 February 1995 |access-date= 3 November 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060207143301/http://www.army.mil/soldiers/feb95/p4.html |archive-date= 7 February 2006}}</ref>

=== 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>

===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" />