Weapons Systems: Changing Roles and Priorities for the Army's OH-58D helicopter Program

Abstract

This report examined the Army's current plans to meet its aerial scout mission needs. To meet these needs, the Army initiated the Army Helicopter Improvement Program (AHIP) to upgrade existing OH-58 helicopters to an OH-58D configuration. During the past 3 years, the primary role for the OH-58D has changed from being a scout and a target designator for AH-64 attack helicopter units to being assigned to air cavalry units as a scout for ground commanders. The Army Chief of Staff is currently considering additional roles for the modified helicopter. When the Army recommended full-scale procurement of the OH- 58D in 1985, it planned to modify 578 helicopters to serve in three scout roles: (1) with AH-64 Apache attack helicopter units as a target locator and designator, (2) with air cavalry units to perform aerial reconnaissance for ground commanders, and (3) with artillery units as a target locator and designator.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA199557

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aerial Reconnaissance
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Army Aircraft
  • Army Aviation
  • Artillery
  • Artillery Units
  • Attack Helicopters
  • Helicopters
  • Procurement
  • Reconnaissance
  • Reconnaissance Aircraft
  • Surface To Air Missiles
  • Target Designators
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military Training and Readiness Simulation