Roll-Out of the first Production Tiger at Eurocopter: A European Success
Marignane/Donauwörth, 22 March 2002
Series production of the Franco-German Tiger combat helicopter - one of Europe's most important helicopter programmes - is in full swing at Eurocopter's Marignane and Donauwörth plants. In the presence of more than 500 guests from politics, armed forces, industry and media from all over the world, the roll-out of the first production Tiger in UHT configuration (Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger, i.e. Combat Support Helicopter Tiger for the German Army) took place at Eurocopter's German facility in Donauwörth on March 22, 2002.
Dr. Walther Stützle, Federal German Secretary of State for Defence, and Yves Gleizes, French Delegue General pour L'Armement, emphasized, at the roll-out ceremony, the excellent cooperation between Germany and France in this programme on the political, military and industrial levels which lead to this remarkable success. The two nations jointly developed a high technology product of superior technical quality which will support the German and French armed forces in meeting the challenges posed by the geostrategic situation after the collapse of the Warsaw Pact with the most advanced combat helicopter in the world today.
Jean-Francois Bigay, President of Eurocopter, thanked the representatives of the German and French governments for their continued support of the Tiger programme. The Tiger was foundation and cornerstone of the Franco-German helicopter manufacturer, Eurocopter, and ensures a leading position in the world market for the company and its suppliers, and a substantial improvement of international competitiveness for the European industry. "Tiger's first export success, the order placed by the Australian government at the end of last year, underscores the superior technical standard of the Tiger weapons system", stated Bigay.
The Tiger programme has a total volume of 3.9 billion Euro (development, industrialisation, production), this being the Eurocopter share and excluding engines which are contracted separately. It is split on a 50:50 basis between Germany and France. Over the next ten years, it secures more than 2,000 highly-qualified jobs in the European helicopter and equipment industry.
The production contract and the order for an initial batch of 160 Tiger helicopters - 80 for Germany and 80 for France - ws signed by the German and French governments in June 1999. The Tiger is manufactured in two final assembly lines, one at Eurocopter in Marignane, France, and one at Eurocopter in Donauwörth, Germany. Deliveries to the German Army will commence at the end of 2002, and to the French Army (ALAT) as of June 2003.
Since the first flight in April 1991, five Tiger prototypes and the pre-production aircraft PS01 have logged more than 3,050 flight hours, and taken part in intensive systems and weapons testing campaigns. Tiger prototypes PT3 and PT5 were used to qualify the UHT that will equip the German Army Air Corps. The multi-role UHT is capable of performing armed reconnaissance, tank strikes, ground combat support, and air combat/escort. For these missions, the UHT can be equipped with anti-tank HOT or fire-and-forget Trigat LR missiles, Stinger air-to-air missiles, rockets and a gun pod. All these systems have undergone extensive firing trials, demonstrating the specified functions and performance of the weapons systems and the helicopter platform.
The modular design concept of the Tiger enables it to be a multi-mission platform from the outset. The basic helicopter can be equipped with different operational systems, providing in-depth flexibility and multi-functionality. The Tiger has all-weather, day-and-night operational capability.
Over 80 percent of the airframe is made of composites, which means less weight, better crash protection and a low electromagnetic signature. The Tiger benefits from new generation engines and rotors, and a glass cockpit with display units that decrease crew workload. An integrated helmet system and a Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) visionics piloting system are used for night flying missions. The Tiger's equipment also includes a third-generation target identification and acquisition system.
On the UH-Tiger, the detectors for the gunner are located in the mast-mounted sight, and for the pilot, on the nose-mounted sight. The mast-mounted sight is used to detect and identify the target. The IR signature is reduced by directing the exhaust gases upward after mixing with cold air. The rotor's quiet-design airfoil section also reduces the noise footprint of the helicopter. Its narrow fuselage minimizes visual detectability, and the airframe structure eliminates reflections of radar and infrared waves thanks to an anti-radar absorbent skin. The Tiger is also fitted with nuclear electromagnetic pulse (NEMP) protection. And no other combat helicopter can match the Tiger by offering such a comprehensive and effective solution for the conflicts of the future.
The German and French armed forces will put the Tiger's inherent multi-role capabilities to full use. Typical missions will be tank strikes, neutralizing ground targets, combat support and escort, surveillance and reconnaissance, and protection of unarmed helicopters taking part in humanitarian aid operations. Both countries will use varying mission equipment packages.
The Tiger is a major contribution to the standardisation of weapons systems between Germany and France and the enhancement of interoperability between the armed forces.
Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS). With revenues amounting to 30.8 billion Euro in 2001 and a workforce of 100,000, EADS is the largest European aerospace company and No. 2 worldwide. It is active in the sectors of commercial aircraft, helicopters, space, military transport and combat aircraft as well as defence technology and services.
For further information, please contact:
Contact
Jean Louis ESPES
Fax: +33 (0)4 42 85 95 64
Eurocopter
Aéroport International Marseille Provence
13725 Marignane Cedex
France
Christina GOTZHEIN
Fax: +49 (0) 89 6000 44 37
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
D-81663 München
Chantal LINARES
Fax: +33 (0)4 42 85 95 64
Eurocopter
Aéroport International Marseille Provence
13725 Marignane Cedex
France
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