Page 64 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

New Warriors
Helicopter Squadron at Zadar-Zemunik
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A fter declaring independence in June Left: The pilots’ night-vision goggles have
been upgraded for the ANVIS Display
1991 and the subsequent withdrawal
of almost all remaining military Symbology System or ADSS. This is a helmet-
assets to Yugoslavia, Croatia’s air arm had mounted display coupled with Aviator Night-
Vision Imaging System (ANVIS) goggles for
to be rebuilt from scratch. Due to a UN arms monitoring critical flight information at night.

embargo imposed in 1992, it was impossible to Below left: The laser-guided AGM-114 Hellfire
procure the offensive weapons needed to fight is one of the main weapons of the OH-58D,
but the high cost of each round means it
insurgents in the northern and eastern parts hasn’t yet featured in a live-fire campaign

of the country, where a Serb majority unwilling in Croatia. However, a first live firing is due

to become part of Croatia had proclaimed next year, after reaching FOC. This is an
the independent republic of Krajina. Attack inert training round. Below: Croatia received
16 OH-58Ds and three simulators in 2016.
helicopters were urgently needed to speed The rotorcraft are assigned to the Eskadrila
the advance of Croatian troops in these areas. helikoptera based at Zadar-Zemunik in central
Eventually, the Croatian government was able Croatia. Here, OH-58D serial 332 undergoes

to purchase 12 Mi-24D and Mi-24V gunships a post-maintenance check flight east of the

airfield. All photos Martin Scharenborg and
from Ukraine and these were delivered unarmed Ramon Wenink
from 1993 onwards. As the Mi-24s were guns, so they fulfilled many of the former tasks
procured as ‘medical evacuation’ helicopters, of the Mi-24. Nevertheless, the armed forces
the UN embargo could be bypassed. However, began looking for a specialised attack and
soon after delivery, most of the Mi-24s were reconnaissance helicopter. As the US Army was
rearmed and enlisted with the 29. eskadrila gradually phasing out its OH-58D Kiowa Warrior,
borbenih helikoptera (EBH, combat helicopter focus shifted to this combat-proven helicopter.
squadron) flying from various forward
operating locations throughout the country. Combat-proven
The Mi-24 proved its value and, in 1995, played The OH-58D is a further development of the
a decisive role during Operations Bljesak and versatile OH-58A, a light scout and attack
Oluje, in Western Slavonia and Eastern Slavonia helicopter that played a significant role during
respectively, when most of the occupied territory the Vietnam War. The thoroughly modernised
was regained by Croatian forces. The Hind OH-58D is a four-bladed, two-seat, single-
remained in service after the conflict, but a lack of engine reconnaissance and attack helicopter. In
spares and funding forced it into early retirement service with the Hrvatsko ratno zrakoplovstvo
in 2004. Plans to sell six Mi-24s to Georgia had (HRZ, Croatian Air Force), its universal quick-
been abandoned by the end of 2006 under change weapon pylons can carry a variety of
political pressure from Russia. Another attempt armaments, including Hydra 70mm (2.75in)
in 2015 to sell seven Mi-24Vs to the highest calibre unguided rockets, laser-guided AGM-
bidder failed and the remaining Croatian Hinds 114 Hellfire missiles and 12.7mm (0.5in)
ended their life in storage and public display. calibre machine guns. Meanwhile, the pilots
Although Croatia didn’t have a dedicated are provided with 5.56mm (0.219in) calibre
attack helicopter in its inventory after 2004, the Heckler & Koch G36CV assault rifles for self-
Mi-8MTV-1 and Mi-171 could be equipped with defence, and these can be employed from the
UB-32-57 rocket pods, 23mm GSh-23L cannon helicopter by the left-seater if necessary.
pods and 7.62mm (0.3in) calibre PK machine The most obvious difference between the
OH-58D and earlier Kiowas is the mast-
mounted sight. Located above the main rotor,
this contains a suite of sensors for day and
night operations, including a high-resolution
TV camera, laser rangefinder/designator
and thermal imaging system. It allows the
Kiowa Warrior to detect targets from long
distances while remaining well hidden.
Wartime Replacement Aircraft
Versatile and relatively cheap to operate, the
OH-58D was the US Army’s primary cavalry
helicopter and saw intensive use in Afghanistan,
Bosnia, Haiti, Iraq, Panama, Somalia and
elsewhere. However, long-running operations
in Iraq and Afghanistan took their toll. Many

62 // December 2019 #381 www.Key.Aero

62-65 Kiowas AFM Dec2019.indd 62 08/11/2019 15:32:24