Eurocopter Tiger
| Tiger / Tigre | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Eurocopter Tiger HAP at the Paris Air Show 2007 | |
| Role | Attack helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Eurocopter |
| First flight | April 1991 |
| Introduction | 2003 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | French Army Australian Army German Army Spanish Army |
| Unit cost | Tiger ARH: US$31 million, DEM25 million (average, 2001)[1] |
The Eurocopter Tiger (company designation EC 665) is an attack helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre.
Development
Origins
In 1984, the French and West German governments issued a requirement for an advanced multi-role battlefield helicopter. A joint venture consisting of Aérospatiale and MBB 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 five prototypes. Three were to be unarmed testbeds and the other two armed prototypes: one for the French escort helicopter variant and the other for the German anti-tank variant.
The first prototype first flew in April 1991. When Aérospatiale 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. Due to technical problems, operational capability is not expected to be achieved before the end of 2012 at the latest.[2]
Exports
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. However, because of delays in attaining operational capability, Australia's Defence Materiel Organisation had to stop payment for the helicopters on 1 July 2007.[3] By 2008 the main issues had been addressed and payments resumed.[4] However, in October 2010 it was revealed that the helicopters will not be fully operational for another two years.[5]
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 PARS 3 LR and Mistral missile systems. They will also have an uprated Enhanced MTR390 engine and so be able to lift a heavier payload. Deliveries are scheduled for 2007–2008.[6] 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. However the deal later fell through.[7] Equally, although it was originally reported that the Tiger would be competing with Kamov Ka-50, and Mil Mi-28 for the order of 22 attack helicopters by Indian Air Force, the Tiger was later withdrawn from the competition.[8][9] In late-2009 it was revealed that the Tiger was undergoing upgrades and as such was not able to participate in the Indian field trials.[10]
By June 2006, 28 production Tigers were flying, including 18 aircraft delivered to their customers of 4 countries.[citation needed] These 28 aircraft had logged about 4,000 flight hours together.
Design
The body of the Tiger is made from 80% carbon fiber reinforced polymer and kevlar, 11% aluminium, and 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.[11]
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. The seats are offset to opposite sides of the centerline to improve the view forward for the gunner in the back.
Crews coming to the Tiger from other platforms require additional training because the additional capabilities bring a higher workload.[12]
Protection
The Tiger's armour can withstand 23 mm autocannon fire.[13] The helicopter includes the AN/AAR-60 MILDS System developed by EADS DE. It includes radar warning, laser warning, and a missile launch/approach detector systems and is connected to a central processing unit from Thales and a SAPHIR-M chaff/flare dispenser from MBDA. The Tiger's visual, radar, infrared, sound signatures have been minimised.
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.
Datalinks systems are Link 4A, Thales Proprietary PR4G, and STANAG 5066. Its radios are HF, MF, VHF, UHF, military SATCOM, and GPS receiver.
Engines
The Tiger is powered by two MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshaft engines.
Cost
The system cost (helicopter, armament, support) depends on number and version:
- Tiger HAP US$35–39 million
- Tiger ARH US$36 million
- Tiger HAD US$44–48 million
- Tiger UHT US$38–43 million
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.
Operational history
On 26 July 2009, three French Tiger HAP helicopters of the 5th Helicopter Regiment arrived at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan. This is the first active deployment of the Eurocopter Tiger in a war zone. The helicopters were to perform armed reconnaissance and fire support missions to aid the effort of coalition ground troops in quelling the growing Taliban insurgency.[14] The Tigers had their operational certification in Afghanistan in early August 2009.[15] Until July 2010, three Tigers have totalled 1,000 hours of operation.[16] During a night mission on 4 February 2011 a French Tiger crashed about 30 miles east of Kabul, both pilots were lightly injured.[17][18]
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe announced on 23 May 2011 that the French ship Tonnerre amphibious assault helicopter carrier with attack helicopters aboard would be deployed to the Libyan coast to enforce UN resolution 1973.[19] On 4 June 2011 French Tiger and British Apache helicopters were used for the first time against targets within Libya.[20]
Variants
Tiger HAP
The Tiger HAP/HCP (Hélicoptère d'Appui Protection, French for "Support and Escort Helicopter" / Hélicoptère de Combat Polyvalent[21] French for "Multipurpose Combat Helicopter"[22]) 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 can carry 68 mm SNEB unguided rockets or 20 mm machine cannons for the fire support role as well as Mistral air-to-air missiles.
UH Tiger
The UHT (from Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger German for Support 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 second-generation infrared and CCD TV cameras. Countermeasures include radar/laser/missile launch/missile approach warning receivers and decoy launchers.
In August 2009, the German magazine Der Spiegel reported that the ten operational Tiger aircraft in the German Army were only suitable for pilot training, while others have not been accepted due to defects.[23] The German defense ministry said that the helicopter has "serious defects particularly with its wiring," while Eurocopter said "Corrective measures related to wiring problems have been developed, agreed by the customer and are being implemented," and that two corrected helicopters will be handed over to the German military in two months.[24]
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. 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 use 70 mm (2.75 in) rockets from Belgian developer, Forges de Zeebruges (FZ). 22 of the variant were ordered in December 2001. Most of the helicopters will be operated by the 1st Aviation Regiment based at Robertson Barracks in Darwin.[25]
The first two ARH helicopters were delivered to Australia on 15 December 2004. ARH deliveries were to be completed by June 2010. Full operating capability was planned for December 2011.[25]
Tiger HAD
The Tiger HAD (Hélicoptère d'Appui Destruction,[26] in French or Helicoptero de Apoyo y Destrucción in Spanish for "Support and Attack Helicopter") version is essentially identical to the HAP version, but with 14% more engine power available due to the upgraded Enhanced MTR390 engines (1464 shp) and a better ballistic protection, as a result of the specific requests made by the Spanish Army. It can also be equipped with the PARS 3 LR anti-tank missiles that were originally developed for the German UHT version, the Hellfire II[27] and is equipped with Spike ER for Spanish Army.[28][29]
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 "Anti-Tank Helicopter") was cancelled.
Operators
- Australian Army ordered 22 Tiger ARHs;[30] 16 helicopters were in service in December 2010.[31]
- 1st Aviation Regiment – Robertson Barracks
- 161st Squadron
- 162nd Squadron
- 1st Aviation Regiment – Robertson Barracks
- French Army ordered 80 helicopters (40 HAP and 40 HAD);[32] 24 were in inventory as of December 2010.[33] 3 have been deployed to Afghanistan since mid-2009.[34]
- 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment (5e Régiment d'Hélicoptères de Combat)
- German Army ordered 80 Tiger UHT helicopters.[35] 6 were in service in December 2010.[33]
- 36th Attack helicopter regiment (Kampfhubschrauberregiment 36)
- Spanish Army ordered 24 Tiger HAD helicopters,[36] 5 were in operation in December 2010.[37]
- 1st Attack Helicopter Battalion (Batallón de Helicópteros de Ataque núm. I)
Specifications (Tiger HAP)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two: pilot and weapon systems officer
- Length: 14.08 m fuselage (46 ft 2 in)
- Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
- Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
- Disc area: 133 m² (1,430 ft²)
- Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,750 lb)
- Max. takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb))
- Powerplant: 2 × MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshafts, 873 kW (1,170 shp) each
- Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 290 km/h with mast, 315 km/h without mast (157 knots, 181 mph with mast, 170 knots or 196 mph without mast)
- Range: 800 km (430 nm, 500 mi) combat (with external tanks in the inboard stations: 1,300km)
- Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
- Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30 cannon in chin turret, with up to 450 rounds.
On each of its two inner hardpoints and two outer hardpoints the Eurocopter Tiger can carry a combination of the following weapons:
- Inner hardpoints:
- 1x 20 mm (0.787 in) autocannon pods, or
- 22× 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod, or
- 4x AGM-114 Hellfire laser guided missiles
- Outer hardpoints:
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