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Eurocopter Tiger

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The Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre. It is also designated the EC 665 or PAH-2.

Development

In 1984 the German and French governments issued a requirement for an advanced multi-role battlefield helicopter. A joint venture consisting of MBB and Aerospatiale was subsequently chosen as the preferred supplier. Due to high costs, the program was cancelled in 1986, but was relaunched during 1987. Subsequently, in November 1989, Eurocopter received a contract to build 5 prototypes. Three were to be unarmed testbeds and the other two armed prototypes: one for the German anti-tank variant and the other for the French escort helicopter variant.

The first prototype first flew in April 1991. When Aerospatiale and MBB, among others, merged in 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group, the Tiger program was transferred as well. Serial production of the Tiger began in March 2002 and the first flight of the first production Tiger HAP for the French Army took place in March 2003. The delivery of the first of the eighty helicopters ordered by the French took place in September 2003.

At the end of 2003 deliveries began of the 80 UHT version combat support helicopters ordered by Germany to the Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement.

Export orders

In December 2001 Eurocopter was awarded the contract for the Australian Army’s "Air 87 Requirement", which was for 22 helicopters of the Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) version. The first Tiger ARH was scheduled to enter service in 2004. 18 of the 22 aircraft will be assembled at the Brisbane facility of Australian Aerospace, the local Eurocopter subsidiary in Australia.

In September 2003, Spain selected a variant of the Tiger HAP combat support helicopter - the Tiger HAD - for its army. The 24 helicopters of this type that have been ordered will be armed with the Trigat and Mistral missile systems. They will also have an uprated Enhanced MTR390 engine and a heavier payload. Deliveries are scheduled for 2007 - 2008[1]. France opted to upgrade most of its HAP Helicopter to HAD; so the HAC-Variant will never be built.

In June 2006, the Rafael Spike-ER was selected by the Spanish Army to be the ATGM of the Spanish HAD, instead of the previously announced Trigat missile system.

In July, 2006, the Saudi Government signed a contract to purchase a total of 142 helicopters, including 12 Tiger attack helicopters. [1]

Flight demonstration of a Tiger UHT at WTD 61/Manching, Germany
German Army Tiger UHT
A closeup of the UHT's possible armament

Design

Protection

The EC Tiger is capable of stopping 23mm[2] autocannon fire.

The body of the Tiger is made from:

  • 80% carbon fiber reinforced polymer and kevlar
  • 11% aluminium
  • 6% titanium

The rotors are made from fiber-plastic able to withstand combat damage and bird strikes. Protection against lightning and electromagnetic pulse is ensured by embedded copper/bronze grid and copper bonding foil. In the helicopter is installed AN/AAR-60 MILDS System ensuring radar warning, laser warning, missile launch/approach detector developed by EADS DE, all connected with central processing unit from Thales and SAPHIR-M chaff / flare dispenser from MBDA.

Its visual, radar, infrared, sound signatures have been minimized.

The navigation system contains two Thales Avionique three-axis ring laser gyro units, two magnetometers, two air data computers, BAE Systems Canada CMA 2012 four-beam Doppler radar, radio altimeter, global positioning system and a suite of low air speed sensors and sensors for terrain following.

Communication

Datalinks: Link 4A, Thales Proprietary PR4G, STANAG 5066

Radios: HF, MF, VHF, UHF, military SATCOM, GPS receiver and datalink.

Loadouts

Loadout Outer pylon Inner pylon Inner pylon Outer pylon
ATA 2x Mistral/Stinger 2x Mistral/Stinger 2x Mistral/Stinger 2x Mistral/Stinger
ATA LR 2x Mistral/Stinger 1x 350 litre drop tank 1x 350 litre drop tank 2x Mistral/Stinger
PGM-M 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM
PGM-M 1x 22 SNEB 68mm Rocket/19 Hydra 70 mm Rocket 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM 1x 22 SNEB 68mm Rocket/19 Hydra 70 mm Rocket
PGM-M 4x Euromissile HOT III 4x Euromissile HOT III 4x Euromissile HOT III 4x Euromissile HOT III
PGM-M 1x 22 SNEB 68mm Rocket/19 Hydra 70 mm Rocket 4x Euromissile HOT III 4x Euromissile HOT III 1x 22 SNEB 68mm Rocket/19 Hydra 70 mm Rocket
PGM-M 2x Mistral/Stinger 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM/HOT III 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM/HOT III 2x Mistral/Stinger
PGM-M LR 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM/HOT III 1x 350 litre drop tank 1x 350 litre drop tank 4x PARS 3 LR ATGM/HOT III
UG-R 1x 22 SNEB 68mm Rocket/19 Hydra 70 mm Rocket 1x 22 SNEB 68mm Rocket/19 Hydra 70 mm Rocket 1x 22 SNEB 68mm Rocket/19 Hydra 70 mm Rocket 1x 22 SNEB 68mm Rocket/19 Hydra 70 mm Rocket
  • Only most common loadouts presented.

Cost

The system cost (helicopter, armament, support) depends on number and version:

  • Tiger HAP $35-39 million USD
  • Tiger ARH $36 million USD
  • Tiger HAD $44-48 million USD
  • Tiger UHT $38-43 million USD
  • (Comparison Apache Longbow $48-52 million USD)

Helmet-Mounted Sight Display

  • French helicopters are equipped with TopOwl helmet-mounted sight for both pilot/co-pilot and one HUD for the pilot from Thales Avionics.
  • German crew is equipped with HMSD from BAE systems.
  • Australian Tigers crew use the TopOwl HMSD from Thales Avionics.

Variants

It should be noted that, while the Tiger has a conventional helicopter gunship configuration of the two crew sitting in tandem, it is somewhat unusual in that the pilot is in the front seat and the gunner is in the back, unlike all other current attack helicopters. As a consequence, the seats are offset to opposite sides of the centerline to improve the view forward for the gunner in the back.

Tiger HAP

The Tiger HAP/HCP (Helicoptere d'Appui Protection / Helicopter for Close Protection) is a medium-weight air-to-air combat and fire support helicopter built for the French Army.

It is fitted with a chin-mounted 30 mm gun turret and 66 mm SNEB unguided rockets for the fire support role as well as Mistral air-to-air missiles.

UH Tiger

Tiger UHT of the German Army
German Tiger UHT during a looping demonstration at ILA 2006

The UHT (from Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger; Ger. supporting helicopter Tiger) is a medium-weight multi-role fire support helicopter built for the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces).

The UHT can carry PARS 3 LR "fire and forget" and/or HOT3 anti-tank missiles as well as 70 mm Hydra air-to-ground fire support rockets. Four AIM-92 Stinger missiles (2 on each side) are mounted for air-to-air combat. Unlike the HAP/HCP version it has no integrated gun turret, but a 12.7 mm gunpod can be fitted if needed. The German Army decided against the French 30 mm GIAT cannon that is used on other Tiger versions because it was dissatisfied with the heavy recoil of this weapon. The upgrade of the UHT with the Rheinmetall RMK30, a 30 mm recoilless autocannon, is not yet clarified due to the budget.
Another noticeable difference with the HAP version is the use of a mast-mounted sight, which has a second-generation infrared channel and a TV channel.

Countermeasures include radar/laser/missile launch/missile approach warning receivers and decoy launchers.

Tiger ARH

The Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) is the version ordered by the Australian Army to replace its OH-58 Kiowas and UH-1 Iroquois-based 'Bushranger' gunships.[3] The Tiger ARH is a modified and upgraded version of the Tiger HAP with upgraded MTR390 engines as well as a laser designator incorporated in the Strix sight for the firing of Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles. Instead of SNEB unguided rockets, the ARH will operate 70 mm (2.75 in.) rockets from Belgian developer, Forges de Zeebruges (FZ).

Tiger HAD

The Tiger HAD (Hélicoptère d'Appui Destruction [4]/ Support Destruction Helicopter) version is essentially identical to the HAP version, but with 14% more engine power available due to the upgraded Enhanced MTR390 engines (1464shp) and a better ballistic protection. It can also be equipped with the PARS 3 LR anti-tank missiles that were originally developed for the German UHT version.

The helicopter is suited for a support and fire suppression role and has been selected by the Spanish Army. The French Army Light Aviation (ALAT) decided to upgrade most of their HAP helicopters to the HAD-Variant and thus the former HAC Variant (i.e. Hélicoptère Anti-Char or Helicopter Anti-Tank) was cancelled.

By June 2006, 28 production Tigers were flying, including 18 aircraft delivered to their customers of 4 countries. These 28 aircraft had logged about 4000 flight hours together.

Operators

 Australia
  • 22 aircraft of the ARH version.
 France
  • 80 aircraft - 40 HAP and 40 HAD (HAD variant to be delivered until 2012)
 Germany
  • 80 aircraft - all of the UHT version
 Spain
  • 24 HAD versions ordered by the Spanish Army and expected to be operational in 2008.[5]
 Saudi Arabia
  • Expected to buy 12 aircraft - similar to HAD version[6]

Specifications (Eurocopter Tiger)

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (pilot, weapon systems officer)

Performance Armament


References

  1. ^ The 2006 Saudi Shopping Spree: More Helicopters from Eurocopter
  2. ^ Proc IMechE, Part G: Journal of Aerospace Engineering - Materials for military helicopters
  3. ^ Defence Materiel Organisation
  4. ^ France & Spain Order New Eurocopter Tiger HAD Variant (updated)
  5. ^ Eurocopter - Homecoming For Spanish Army’s First Eurocopter Tigers
  6. ^ Saudi Shopping Spree: Defense Industry Daily

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Eurocopter Tiger.

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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