The Tiger: Versatility and Discretion at the Service of Firepower
Farnborough, 22 July 2002
Over the last 40 years, the helicopter has progressively established itself as a weapon system that no military operations combining ground and air forces can do without.
In missions ranging from providing a persuasive presence as support for humanitarian missions to being called on to intervene in crisis situations, the combat helicopter is constantly solicited from all corners.
This type of helicopter must meet one definite requirement: multifunctional capabilities. This is why the development of the Tiger, the Franco-German combat helicopter, is an important step in the evolution of this type of aircraft.
Destined to provide the German and French forces with a new generation of aircraft, the Tiger -- designed and built by Eurocopter -- incorporates several innovative technological and conceptual approaches. This visionary concept allows the aircraft to be prepared for a multitude of present and future scenarios, which take into account every foreseeable evolution in attack capabilities that are clearly becoming more and more multiform.
The Tiger is unanimously considered the most multifunctional aircraft in the world. Plans call for the French forces to be equipped with 215 of the helicopters, and the German army with 212. Two versions are available: the HAP combat support helicopter, chosen by the French Army, and the HAC and UHT anti-tank versions, the first destined for the French Army and the second for the German Army.
Antitank is the primary mission of both HAC and UHT, but in the case of the UHT, with some additional weapons, the aircraft is able to perform close support and escort missions.
The order was placed by Germany and France for the first group of 160 aircraft in 1999, and the first delivery will be made to the German forces by the end of 2002 and to French forces by mid-2003.
Each version has been developed based on a shared platform specially designed to integrate a wide variety of weapon systems and to meet the requirements specified by the military high command of each country.
However, in order to respond to different requirements stemming from diverse geographic, geopolitical, or military situations, Eurocopter offers the basic platform of its HCP (Hélicoptère de Combat Polyvalent-Multipurpose Combat Helicopter) version in a variety of forms like CCH for Spain or ARH for Australia. This aircraft has many different configurations so it can handle all kinds of missions, such as reconnaissance, anti-tank, or escort support, ground and air interdiction, or any possible combination of these different types of assignments.
The Tiger design was based on technological concepts and materials that ensure maximum electromagnetic, optical, and acoustic discretion.
The aircraft is practically undetectable thanks to the use of new materials and it can approach enemy equipment and targets without revealing its presence until the last moment, when it is too late for adversaries to organize their operations. This is also due to the passive detection and fire control and the very high manoeuvrability as well as the reduced weight, which makes it possible for the helicopter to fly very close the ground in any conditions. In addition, the cockpit configuration with the pilot in the forward cockpit offers excellent visibility in any direction making manoeuvring easy even at night.
The Tiger is capable of high flight speeds, reaching up to 285 km/h, and it has superb handling and manoeuvrability as required in air-to-air engagements, characteristics which are also useful for less demanding missions like ground support. This means it can perform both day and night missions over the most hazardous terrain.
In fact, the Tiger, which is in the 6-tonne class, can perform any mission alone that would normally require two or three helicopters from the current generation.
The totally integrated weapon and navigation system is based on the latest developments in optical and thermographic equipment, and it has achieved extraordinary performances. For example, the Tiger has night vision capabilities, and can perform air-to-air missile or gun attack or self-defence missions (thanks to its chin mounted gun turret, the most modern in the world) while maintaining direct hit probability rates unthinkable for its opponents.
It can also identify targets to be destroyed from great distances, thus avoiding the terrible friendly fire errors that were so regrettable in recent conflicts. As well as being equipped with latest generation wire-guided missiles, the Tiger, when fully developed, will also carry "Fire and Forget" missiles, whose efficiency and safety are based on the fact that the homing head will be locked on the target before launching ("Lock on before Launch").
Eurocopter is a wholly-owned subsidiary of EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company). With revenues amounting to 38.8 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 technologies and services.
For more detailed information, please contact:
Jean-Louis ESPES
Tel: +33(0) 4 42 85 95 55
Fax: +33(0) 4 42 85 95 64
Eurocopter
Aéroport International Marseille Provence
13725 Marignane Cedex - France -
Christina GOTZHEIN
Tel: +49(0) 89 60 00 64 88
Fax: +49(0) 89 60 00 44 37
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
D-81663 Munich - Germany
Chantal LINARES
Tel: +33(0) 4 42 85 60 51
Fax: +33(0) 4 42 85 95 64
Eurocopter
Aéroport International Marseille Provence
13725 Marignane Cedex - France
Christoph MÜLLER
Tel: +49(0) 906 71 45 65
Fax: +49(0) 906 71 46 74
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
D-86607 Donauwörth - Germany
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
