The Bell OH-58 Kiowa was selected as the unlikely beneficiary of the US Army's LOH (Light Observation Helicopter) requirement which involved a dozen manufacturers. However, this was only possible because the original winner, the Hughes OH-6, had suffered from slow delivery and rising costs prompting a reopening of the competition upon which the Kiowa was selected. Although it was originally designed as a light scout helicopter, it was soon complemented with significant attack capabilities including Stinger and Hellfire missiles and a prominent mast-mounted sight with a laser rangefinder, all the more impressive considering the small and frail-looking fuselage. The Kiowa saw action in Vietnam in addition to various other conflicts since, and has also been adopted by Australia, Austria, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan.

The Kiowa is based on the Bell Model 206A JetRanger helicopter which first flew on 10 January 1966, entereing service in Vietnam as the OH-58A. Later improvements led to the OH-58C with a flat glass canopy and an upgraded engine to which a large number of earlier units were converted to. Eventually the Bell Model 406 entered the AHIP (Army Helicopter Improvement Program) which resulted in the definitive OH-58D which featured a number of optronic and thermal sights housed in a large mast-mounted sight. Sharing this designation is the Kiowa Warrior, a purpose-built attack platform which can carry missiles, rockets, and machine gun pods. Export versions include the OH-58B for Austria and the COH-58A (or CH-136) for Canada.