Eurocopter Tiger

Eurocopter Tiger
Name	Eurocopter Tiger
Caption	A French Army Tiger HAP in flight
Type	Attack helicopter
Manufacturer	Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter)
First flight	27 April 1991
Introduced	2003
Status	In service
Primary users	French Army * German Army * Spanish Army * Australian Army
Produced	1991–present
Number built	180+ as of 2020

Eurocopter Tiger. The Eurocopter Tiger is a four-bladed, twin-engine attack helicopter developed and manufactured by Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter). It entered service with the French Army in 2003 and has been adopted by several other nations, including Germany, Spain, and Australia. The helicopter is designed for a variety of combat roles, including armed reconnaissance, anti-tank warfare, and close air support, featuring advanced avionics and a composite airframe for enhanced survivability.

Development

The origins of the program trace back to a 1984 requirement for a new generation of anti-tank helicopters issued jointly by France and West Germany. A formal agreement was signed in 1987, leading to the formation of the Eurocopter Group consortium to manage the project. The first prototype, designated PT1, conducted its maiden flight from the Marignane facility on 27 April 1991. The development phase was protracted, facing significant technical challenges and cost overruns, exacerbated by the political changes following the German reunification. The program was nearly canceled in the mid-1990s but was restructured, with serial production finally approved in 1999. Key milestones included the first flight of the pre-series French Army HAP version in March 2002 and the German Army UHT variant later that year.

Design

The airframe utilizes a high percentage of carbon fiber reinforced polymer and Kevlar composites to reduce weight and radar signature. It is powered by two MTU/Turbomeca/Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshaft engines, providing strong performance in hot and high conditions. The crew of two sits in a tandem configuration, with the pilot in the rear and the weapon systems officer in the front, both protected by titanium and composite armor. The core of its combat system is the integrated Osiris mast-mounted sight and the Strix roof-mounted sight, coupled with a sophisticated glass cockpit and Helmet-mounted display system. Defensive systems include a Missile Approach Warning System, laser warning receiver, and chaff and flare dispensers.

Operational history

The Tiger achieved initial operational capability with the French Army Light Aviation in 2005. Its first major combat deployment came in 2009 when French Tigers were sent to support ISAF operations in Afghanistan, operating from Kabul International Airport. The Australian Army deployed its ARH Tigers to East Timor and later to Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. German UHT variants have been deployed to Mali as part of the MINUSMA peacekeeping mission. Spanish Tigers have seen service in Afghanistan and during NATO exercises. The platform has been continuously upgraded, with programs like the Tiger MkIII modernization for French and Spanish aircraft.

Variants

* Tiger HAP (Hélicoptère d'Appui Protection): An escort and fire support variant for the French Army, equipped with a GIAT 30 cannon, Mistral air-to-air missiles, and unguided rockets. * Tiger HAD (Hélicoptère d'Appui Destruction): An upgraded attack version for Spain and France, with more powerful MTR390E engines, enhanced armor, and the ability to fire Hellfire or Spike anti-tank missiles. * Tiger UHT (Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger): The anti-tank variant for the German Army, primarily armed with PARS 3 LR fire-and-forget missiles and a HIRNG sight system. * Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter): The variant developed for the Australian Army, based on the HAP but integrating Lockheed Martin mission systems and armed with Hellfire II missiles.

Operators

* French Army – Operates the HAP and HAD variants. * German Army – Operates the UHT variant. * Spanish Army – Operates the HAD variant. * Australian Army – Operated the ARH variant until its retirement from service in 2023.

Specifications (Tiger HAP)

* Crew: 2 (pilot, weapon systems officer) * Length: 14.08 m (fuselage) * Height: 3.83 m * Empty weight: 3,060 kg * Max takeoff weight: 6,000 kg * Powerplant: 2 × MTU/Turbomeca MTR390 turboshaft engines * Maximum speed: 290 km/h * Range: 800 km * Service ceiling: 4,000 m * Armament: 1× 30 mm GIAT 30 cannon, 4× Mistral air-to-air missiles, 2× pods for 68 mm unguided rockets * Avionics: Osiris mast-mounted sight, Strix roof sight, Helmet-mounted display

Category:Attack helicopters Category:Military aircraft of France Category:Military aircraft of Germany