Bell 406CS - Saudi's Kiowa

tono_taka · September 19, 2024, 6:17am

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Bell 406CS

Simply put, the Bell 406CS is an export version of the American reconnaissance attack helicopter OH-58D. This aircraft was adopted only by Saudi Arabia.

Its performance is basically the same as the OH-58D, but the major difference is that it is equipped with HeliTOW instead of MMS (Mast Mounted Sight) in Optics.
Armament options include multiple gun pods, TOW-2, Stinger, and Hydra-70. It may also be equipped with a Hellfire, but no images have been found of the Saudi 406CS equipped with a Hellfire.
In game, if not equipped with Hellfire, it would rank lower than the AH-1F; if equipped with Hellfire, it would rank the same as the OH-58D and could be added as a squadron weapon or premium helicopter.

Performance

Basic Information

Crew : 2
Length : 12.85 m
Height : 3.93 m
Gross weight : 2,400 kg
Engine : Allison 250-С30U ×1 (410 Kw)

Performance

Cruise speed : 222 km/h
Maximum Speed : 240 km/h
Service ceiling : 6,250 m

Equipment

MAW : no
RWR : AN/APR-39
LWS : no
C/M dispenser : no
Optics : Saab HeliTOW

Armament

ATGM
- BGM -71 TOW-2 missiles ×4
- AGM-114 Hellfire missiles ×4
AAM
- AIM-92 Stinger missiles ×4
Rocket
- 70 mm Hydra-70 rockets ×14
Gunpod
- GIAT NC 621 gun pod (20 mm GIAT M621 cannon ×1) ×2
- FN HMP 250 gun pod (12.7 mm FN M3P machine gun×1) ×2
- FN TMP-5 gun pod (7.62 mm FN MAG 58 machine gun×2) ×2

History

The AGM-114 Hellfire Missile, which the OH-58D was originally equipped with, and the avionics that included it were restricted for export by the U.S. Congress, so the aircraft was built for export without them. It made its first flight in 1984 and was unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow (FIA) that same year. The first 406CS, #N2500B, was modified from the Bell 206B-3 with elements of the OH-58D to become the 406CS demonstrator.

In FIA 1984, it was equipped with SFIM APX M397 sights, but in FIA 1988, it was modified multiple times to be equipped with SAAB HeliTOW sights and the shape of the skid was also changed, etc. It was also exhibited in FIA 1990.

In addition, the Hellfire was initially restricted for export, but as the years passed, the conditions were relaxed and it was modified and incorporated into the avionics of the 406CS, and it was also imported to Saudi Arabia at the same time as the AH-64A, so it may be possible to equip it.
However, as mentioned above, I have not seen any images of the RSLF Bell 406CS equipped with Hellfire.

In 1979, the Saudi Land Forces decided to establish a new aviation unit to provide close air support on its own, instead of relying on the Air Force. RSLFAC began to introduce helicopters in earnest.

RSLFAC wanted to introduce the AH-64A, which had just been put into service by the U.S. Army in 1984, but because the export of the system, including the AGM-114 Missile, was restricted by the U.S. Congress and the U.S. did not want Saudi Arabia’s military to become stronger, the export of the AH-64A was not permitted. Therefore, the next stop was the Bell 406CS, and in 1986, the U.S. Congress authorized the export of 15 Bell 406CS aircraft, which arrived at the unit in 1990.

However, the Gulf War of 1990, in which Saudi Arabia and the United States jointly fought Iraq, changed the U.S. attitude and allowed the export of 12 AH-64As. As a result, only 15 406CS were deployed. The AH-64D was deployed later in 2008, further increasing its strength.

The 15 RSLF Bell 406CS are numbered #840~#854 respectively. Information within Saudi Arabia is scarce, but as of 2018, Saudi Arabia has requested the US to continue the Maintenance Support Service (MSS) contract for the 406CS, so it is assumed that they continue to operate with the AH-64A/D.