Mudhole–Valdez, Alaska OH-58D "Kiowa Warrior"

[hasegawa]

A Flight Through the Past
Yesterday, I took a short but impressive flight in MSFS with the OH-58D "Kiowa Warrior" from Mudhole Smith to Valdez. A helicopter that is now history.
The Kiowa was retired in 2020 – a light observation helicopter with origins dating back to the Vietnam War. It was used for reconnaissance and target designation, lightly armed in the "D" version, agile, and often deployed close to the front lines.
A successor was planned, the RAH-66 "Comanche" – technically ambitious but a financial disaster. Ultimately, it was not just the money but especially developments in military technology that sealed the Kiowa’s fate.
What the helicopter crew used to do is now done by drones – more precise, cost-effective, and without risking human lives. The war in Ukraine clearly shows: helicopters are highly vulnerable on modern battlefields. The trend clearly moves toward unmanned systems.
With the end of the Kiowa, an era came to an end – but in MSFS, you can still experience that time. The story of this helicopter, its missions, limits, and significance—all live on virtually there.

[Splitpin]

Great post, interesting little aircraft.

[hasegawa]

The point is, in modern warfare, drones are replacing helicopters like this one. The discontinuation of the RAH-66 project showed this drastically. Too expensive and no longer up to date.

[Splitpin]

It seems drones and AI are replacing almost everything.

[emfrat]

It seems drones and AI are replacing almost everything.

The trouble with AI is that computers cannot think. They do exactly, and only, what they have been told to do. I remember one respected dev who put out a plane with a 'textures' folder and of course it would not show up in FS, because their coding is looking for a 'texture' folder. Like many others I soon spotted the problem, but the computer would have spent the rest of its life trying to find a 'textures' folder...

[hasegawa]

AI and Autonomous Weapons – A Ticking Time Bomb?

I share the concern that we are at a point where control over advanced weapon technologies, especially autonomous drone swarms, is nearly impossible. Recent weeks have shown how fragile and ineffective international agreements like the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have become.

If such fundamental treaties are barely respected and countries withdraw from oversight, why should we expect responsible handling of autonomous systems?

Autonomous drone swarms carry the risk of a “worst-case scenario” where malfunctions or uncontrolled actions could trigger a catastrophic escalation. The development of these technologies is advancing rapidly, while international discussions and binding regulations lag far behind.

There is a real danger that we face a new level of threat — one we may no longer be able to respond to in time. The warning signs are clear, and it is up to us to make this warning loud and unmistakable.