The OH-58 Kiowa, US Legendary Helicopter Contributing to Counter-Drug Missions

 

In addition to the AH-64 Apache, in fact the US has the legendary Bell OH-58 Kiowa helicopter. While not as well-known as the AH-64 Apache, UH-60 Black Hawk, or CH-47 Chinook, the Kiowa is very experienced.

 

Kiowa served the US for almost 50 years before retiring in 2014. In fact, now Kiowa still enjoys operating in countries such as Austria, Canada, Taiwan, and Saudi Arabia. Quoted from 19fortyfive.com, the Kiowa has another dubious difference. In 1989, Congress mandated that the Army National Guard would participate in the ധąɾ on Drugs.

Therefore, in 1992, the National Guard created the Air Reconnaissance and Reconnaissance Detachment (RAID), which has aviation units in 31 states. The aviation units contained 76 OH-58A Kiowa, modified for reconnaissance and interdiction missions against US citizens. The Kiowa flies on more than 1,200 aerial counter-drug missions on US soil. RAID lives on today, with a mission dedicated to counterterrorism, but the esteemed Kiowa has retired.

 

 

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