A-10 to the Ukrainians? Recent comments by the Air Force secretary suggest a way out for the USAF from A-10 ownership

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

How about the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior? Strictly speaking not an attack helicopter as such. but could be used as one , and has been used as one before. I believe it has been recently retired from US Army service - could be a lot of airframes still in storage?

It would be an aircraft easily available, but NOT OPTIMAL. It was already over-weighted and it would likely be eaten alive by the Russian defenses. It's too slow with all the equipment and armament.

When we flew into Iraq, we escorted the 58D's with our UH-60s, and carried their DART teams in case one broke down. We had to slow down so much because they could not keep up with us. One did in fact have an issue when its chin bubble blew out while firing its .50 cal. They had to jerry rig a piece of sheet metal to it at a Polish base in Babylon.

The best use of the 58D is in tandem with an attack helicopter like an Apache where it is not directly engaging the enemy but used as a scout that "paints" the target for the attack helicopters who engage the target. Hence why it was retired, when the Apache-Longbow came online. The slow obsolete 58D was no longer needed.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Off-topic, but just for our Polish friends here. These were taken that day in Babylon at the Polish Camp. We spent a few hours there while the 58D was being temporarily repaired.

 

[SaparotRob]

Cool!

 

[Glider]

Another option is bringing up the old guard and using UH-1s. They are plentiful, easy to work on, plenty of spares and well proven. On the down side, they are slow (compared to newer birds) and would need heat suppression kits for the exhaust depending on the model.

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I was wondering how many AH1 attack helicopters might be sitting in storage in the desert. The TOW may be an old AT missile, but would more than suffice for the majority of targets available

 

[Dimlee]

We just need some Brrrt, once again.