Since its first delivery in May 1969, the Bell OH-58A Kiowa has been faithfully serving the United States Army and Army National Guard. But now, as with all good things, the time has come to say goodbye, as the OH-58A nears retirement.  

In its 42 years of operation, the highlights of the OH-58A have included serving in the Vietnam War and in Europe during the Cold War. Although mostly tasked as a scout and reconnaissance platform, the Kiowa was also used in light utility and transport missions, too.

In the early 1990s, the OH-58A was recruited for a very different mission: participation with the National Guards Counterdrug Program, through the Army National Guards Reconnaissance and Aerial Interdiction Detachment (RAID) units. To get a closer look at the Kiowa in this civilian counter-drug role, we visited with the California Army National Guards (CANGs) Team Eagle (the new name CANG gave its RAID units after the service-wide restructuring of the RAID program in 2005 led to an expanded mission profile that encompasses such security and support roles as counter-terrorism). Conducted in close co-operation with civilian law enforcement agencies, Team Eagles counter-drug mission highlights the versatility of the venerable OH-58A at the twilight of its career.

The Aircraft

In 1988, Congress mandated that the National Guard would participate in drug eradication within the U.S. This participation would allow the service to help out federal, state and local law enforcement agencies with aircraft and other operational assets.

In response, the Army National Guard (ARNG) created the RAID program, which, by the end of 1994 had 76 modified OH-58As available for ARNG in 27 states to conduct aerial counter-drug reconnaissance and interdiction missions. With the ongoing success of RAID, the program has had as many as 144 OH-58As, including a group of training aircraft at the Western ARNG Aviation Training Site in Arizona, and 37 states and territories involved. 

The Kiowas assigned to RAID were modified with a 420-shaft-horsepower Allison/Rolls-Royce T-63-A-720 (civil 250-C20) turbine engine, replacing the original 317-s.h.p. T-63-A-700 (civil 250-C18) version. With this power increase, the aircraft were designated as OH-58A+s. System upgrades included a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) turret and law-enforcement-compatible radios. In all, there have been three versions of the OH-58A+ that have been used by RAID units such as Team Eagle over the years. 

The special-mission-equipment version has a belly-mounted FLIR Systems 2000 series forward-looking-infrared-imaging turret; a high-landing-gear skid package, for additional clearance; a Spectrolab SX-16 Nightsun searchlight; and a Wulfsberg multi-channel radio, for communicating with civilian law enforcement agencies. Also, a large video display is in place for the FLIR operator with a smaller screen available for the pilots use.

The mission-equipment-package (MEP) version, meanwhile, also has the high skids, but features the more sophisticated FLIR Systems Ultra 7500 forward-looking-infrared-imaging turret; a moving-map system; a more advanced Wulfsberg radio; and two large, permanent cockpit displays that can show either FLIR or moving-map information. Some MEP versions also have a video downlink system, allowing the aircraft to transmit FLIR images to ground-based receivers.

The remaining OH-58A+ version Team Eagle and other RAID units have used is the standard or slick edition, which only has high skids added to the normal Army equipment. These versions are used as observational force-multipliers or as reserve/back-up ships.

The Mission

As mentioned, one of the main missions for the California Army National Guards Team Eagle units is as a flying platform for local, state and federal drug enforcement agents. As one Team Eagle pilot explained, Once we are requested, we meet at a predetermined location or local airport and start flying missions for the requesting agency. We try to provide the support they need, as long as its safe for our crews, agents and aircraft. 

This pilot explained that the law enforcement agents who fly with Team Eagle are thoroughly briefed to become aerial observers (as per the Armys security and support battalion operations field manual). We brief them in helicopter operations, flight characteristics, familiarization on the cockpit and radios, FLIR and other mission equipment. We train the agent on emergency egress and emergency procedures. Well take the agent out on a familiarization flight to teach about aerial hazards, such as wires, low-level concerns, distances from obstacles, etc.

He then discussed the mission concerns each pilot faces: Generally, we operate between 2,000 feet and 7,000 feet altitude and fly heavy at the start of the mission. We fly throughout the summer, so performance is at a premium. Fuel loads are from two to two-and-a-half hours, but this might have to be adjusted because of our weight and hot-heavy conditions. . . . Because of the limited power, pilots need to be aware of where they are at all times and not allow themselves to get into a low-speed, low-altitude flight profile without a way out. Power management is very important in this aircraft and this mission.

During the typical marijuana harvesting season (generally mid-April to early October), Team Eagle can be anywhere in the state of California, from San Diego County in the south, to the Emerald Triangle counties of Humboldt, Trinity and Mendocino in the north. As another Team Eagle pilot explained, We try to be as flexible as possible so we can support any request on short notice. The summer months can get very hectic, but we do the best we can with the assets we have.

According to this pilot, Team Eagle lets the local agencies take the lead, since they are familiar with the terrain and conditions of the operational area. We always fly with at least one agent in the back of the helicopter, but prefer two. . . . They will observe and mark locations of interest with GPS coordinates. The agents are generally very experienced in anti-drug operations and try to think like a grower in identifying likely locations for marijuana grows. Explained the pilot, The agents have been doing this for a long time and know most of the growers tricks and how to counter them. They also know how and where marijuana grows best, angle of light, amount of sun needed, etc. With this information, you can figure out where the larger marijuana grows are most of the time.

California law allows people to grow their own marijuana for medicinal purposes, but not for profit. Such activity is regulated by law enforcement and is not part of counter-drug operations. Rather, the local, state and federal agents involved in counter-drug operations are primarily interested in large outdoor grows, especially those on public lands, such as state and national forests (see sidebar on p.42). Said one pilot, Ive seen grows on 45-degree sloping terrain with a 1,000-foot drop off around it, and miles from any roads. We honestly dont know how the growers are able to get into some of these places, much less how they haul in all the equipment and growing supplies . . . Ive seen grows right next to public roads, on hillsides next to populated areas and also places I cant discuss.

Full Court Press

A multi-agency operation that took place in July 2011 highlighted the collaborative efforts Team Eagle engages in. Called Full Court Press, this operation took place in Mendocino and surrounding counties over three weeks of intense operations. Vertical accompanied Team Eagle during Full Court Press to document this successful mission.

With the support of Team Eagle OH-58A+ helicopters and crews, operation Full Court Press resulted in the seizure of 632,058 marijuana plants and 1,986 pounds of processed marijuana, as well as the arrest of 132 individuals. Additionally, more than 51,404 pounds of trash, 40 miles of irrigation line, 5,459 pounds of fertilizer, and 149 pounds of pesticides were removed from grow sites on public lands. It was an impressive victory for all involved, and ably demonstrated the continued value of the aging Kiowa. 

Now in the twilight of its career at least with the National Guard the OH-58A Kiowa is soon to be replaced with the Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota (see p.34, Vertical 911, Spring 2010), which Team Eagle and other National Guard RAID units will use for a variety of security and support missions. But whatever the future holds, it wont erase the history of the OH-58A, which has served U.S. Army and Army National Guard units well and showed its versatility across a broad spectrum of operations.