Bell OH-58 Kiowa - the American easy multi-purpose helicopter developed on the basis of model Bell 206. From the end of 1960th years it is widely applied by Army of the USA to investigation and direct fire support of land armies.
In 1980 US military men in program AHIP (the program of modernisation of the army helicopter) have made essentially new demands to easy helicopters of investigation. First of all from visual supervision over a battlefield it was required to pass to the review of district by means of radio-electronic means. In tactics basis have put the concept "peeping because of shelter", i.e. The helicopter should conduct investigation, taking cover behind subjects on district (houses, trees, hills), exposing over them only the block of gauges and to fly in a mode of rounding of a relief on minimum (to 15) height. Also ability of "survival" in the conditions of active air defence of the opponent especially made a reservation.