OH-58 Weapons Capability Universal weapons pylons offer quick-change selection of the helicopter's diverse weapons systems.

Each of the helicopter's two pylons can be armed with any of the following:
Hellfire and anti-tank missiles Hydra 70 rockets .50-caliber machine gun

Survivability & Crashworthiness Like no other armed reconnaissance helicopter in the world, the OH-58D survives combat with a countermeasure suite, which includes:

Infrared seeker jammer Pulse and CW radar warning receivers Laser warning detectors Inherent infrared suppression

Mast-Mounted Sight The mast-mounted sight enables the Kiowa Warrior to fight both day and night, at the maximum range of its weapons systems - and with minimum exposure. The aircraft remains concealed during all but a few seconds of an autonomous engagement, making it considerably more survivable than gunships with nose-mounted sensors.
Systems inside the mast include:

High-resolution TV camera for long-range, low-light target detection IR thermal imaging sensor for navigation, target acquisition at night or under obscured conditions Laser rangerfinder for precise target location and guidance of armament Boresight assembly for quick in-flight sensor alignment

Engine Transmission and Rotor The Kiowa's power train gives the speed, lift and maneuverablilty needed to endure battlefield conditions. Standard on the OH-58D are:

 458 kw (650 shp) Allison turbine, proven on Bell's commercial model 206 LongRangers, which have amassed tens of thousands of flight hours "Ruggedized" transmission with a transient power capability of 475 kw (637 hp) Four-bladed main rotor system with all-composite, lifetime rotorblades capable of surviving shell hits up to .50 caliber

Cockpit Electronics The OH-58D features:

Video recorder for storing TV and thermal imagery from mission Cockpit playback capability Data transfer system with data-loading module for pre-mission storing of navigation waypoints and radio frequencies Night vision goggle flight reference symbology display Have-Quick UHF and SINCGARS FM anti-jam radio Displays to align and fire weapons systems