The US Army is beginning mission equipment upgrade modifications to its fleet of OH-58 Kiowa Warrior scout aircraft in an effort to build a new, high-tech “F” model helicopter designed with improved avionics, better sensors and stepped-up overall performance capability.

The first “F” model flight is slated for next year, said Lt. Col. Scott Rauer, Product Manager, Kiowa Warrior. The US Army plans to acquire 368 “F” model OH-58s, an aircraft which comes to life through a series of technical upgrades and changes to the current “D” model Kiowa. Presently, the helicopters have been busily performing a range of crucial missions in Iraq and Afghanistan to include light attack missions, general reconnaissance, improvised explosive device detection and convoy escort missions.

The “F” model Kiowa upgrade, which will ensure the aircraft’s service life through 2025, includes a host of technical upgrades being performed by an government design house at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., and a handful of its industry partners to include Bell Helicopter, Honeywell and Rolls-Royce.