welll but stilll i think it is not good against gun fire few burst can bring this out it is not made for take a damage sir yes but still it is good for reconacinse
Scout helos are required to be agile and highly maneuverable, flying close to ground 10-15 feet, taking cover of trees, sand dunes, small ridges. for better controllability, no extra weight, like armour protection, for crew, helo vital protection is afforded. The aim of any scout is to locate enemy, pass back information to HQ, and as soon as the heavy cavalry appears on scene (cobras, apaches), disengage itself and then assume a command and control position, high above, out of enemy weapons. So scout helos does not themselves engage enemy, their task is done, as soon as they contact enemy, and direct the following gunships over the target.
Scout helos are not suited for COIN operations for obvious reasons. Basically, scout helos are designed to fly over plains, against armoured and mechanized formations, racing forward over vast area, and they may pick large targets, tanks, APCs etc, they cannot pick up small groups of men . they are also not good, for hilly areas.
US Army has gone one step ahead and equip its OH-58Ds (derivative of JR) into armed helos, to take oppertunity targets only which present less danger to helo itself. often you see the pics of 58Ds in Iraq, with their side doors removed, and pilot is fully exposed to his side. just to serve 2 purposes, less weight, and pilot has good allround observation.
Thats the reason we donot see Jet Rangers in WOT in FATA, in any of the news videos, as iconic MI-17, cobras and 412s.