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Tiger (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter)

Eurocopter ARH Tiger attack helicopter will be withdrawn from service after an operational period of almost 20 years. Australia decided to withdraw the Tiger helicopters due to multiple issues related to reliability and maintenance costs. Australia, far from Europe, was a rather exotic customer for the Tiger, which was only used by its producing countries: France, Germany and Spain. The Australian Tiger was a somewhat different animal to its European brothers, however, on account of its increased armament capability and its resulting complexity, a response to Australia’s desire for a platform capable of firing both missiles and cannons. In April 2019, Airbus was awarded an extension of the Tiger through-life support contract until 2025 by the Australian Department of Defence.

The Tiger (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) is one of the world's most advanced armed reconnaissance helicopters. It incorporates cutting-edge technology, including composite airframe to minimise weight and reduce radar cross section. With the latest-generation engines and rotors, and an integrated suite of sensors and weapons, it's a key player in the Army's arsenal.

Tiger is a lightweight gunship produced by Eurocopter, now part of Airbus, to serve in reconnaissance missions. The Tiger’s specs are comparable to the US Apache AH-64, but lighter, quieter, and with a longer range. The helicopter is also equipped with Hellfire missiles, 70-millimeter Hydra rockets, and 30-millimeter cannon shells, as well as Stinger missiles, providing it with anti-aircraft capacity.

The AGM-114 (Hellfire II) provides heavy anti-armour capability. The missile is laser-guided and has an inbuilt laser seeker that can read a specially coded laser being reflected off a target. This target can be marked either before launching the missile, after launch or even by a remote source, such as a soldier on the ground. This versatility provides the helicopter with a far greater survivability and the ability to attack without moving into a target's vision.

The ARH is equipped with a GIAT 30mm DEFA M781 cannon in a chin-mounted turret (below the helicopter's nose). It can be used for engaging ground or air targets, and has a rate of fire up to 750 rounds per minute. The M781 is a dual feed weapon allowing for two different types of ammunition to be stored and selected. The weapon can be controlled via the Helmet-Mounted Sight Display, which can direct the aim of the cannon accurately to where the battle captain is looking using sensors within the helmet and cockpit.

In 2008, Australia purchased 22 Tiger ARH attack helicopters that were celebrated by military-industrial enthusiasts and investors as identical to "the latest Apache model, but using later airframe technology and with different role optimizations."

The project received Government approval in March 1999 to replace the Army’s aerial reconnaissance and fire support capability, which was based on the 1960s technology Bell Kiowa and Iroquois helicopters. The project’s acquisition strategy specified substantial Australian Industry Involvement, and in December 2001 the Commonwealth entered into separate contracts with Australian Aerospace for the Acquisition and Through Life Support (TLS) programs.

The first four aircraft were manufactured and assembled in France and the remaining 18 aircraft were manufactured in France and assembled in Brisbane. One ARH is fitted with flight test instruments to assist the test and evaluation of ARH capability upgrades. The training system relies heavily on simulation devices using the Full Flight and Mission Simulator and Cockpit Procedures Trainers which were built in France, then shipped to Australia. The Full Flight and Mission Simulator and one Cockpit Procedures Trainer are installed at Oakey (Queensland); the second Cockpit Procedures Trainer is installed at Darwin (Northern Territory).

Unfortunately, eight years after large sums of money, Australia’s Tiger "still has not yet achieved final operational capability," and is not ready for combat. Australia’s 2016 defense white paper, a long-term military logistics and equipment proposition covering the coming decades, notably excluded additional expenditures to make the Tiger combat ready, signaling the beginning of the end for the current version of the aircraft. the Tiger was designed to reduce the number of helicopters, as a way to save money, but nothing of the sort happened.

The Australian Tiger has consistent software malfunctions that technicians have struggled with for years. Simple day to day repairs could be impossible, as parts had to be shipped to Europe for refurbishment, adding to the delay and cost. Even more troubling, the air conditioner and power units on the Australian Tigers repeatedly broke down, filling cockpits with toxic black smoke that injured several Australian soldiers. In one incident, "the window jammed shut after not being checked during preflight inspections so the crew was forced to take the risky step of blowing the canopy off to ventilate the cockpit."

Australian military helicopter pilots outright refused to fly the attack chopper. The pilots were outraged, and after repeated incidents and injuries, realized that Australian officials were not going to suspend flying. One Australian military official quipped that, "usually you have to stop military pilots from flying," highlighting the substantial defects in the Australian model.

By 2015 the ARH Tiger Helicopter project faced significant capability risks and issues in relation to delivering the required Rate of Effort (flying hours), and technological obsolescence caused by delays in delivery, which impact future use. The expected impact of these risks and issues has not translated into Defence’s assessment of future capability performance, although it could reasonably be assumed to have a long term capability effect.

As of 30 June 2015, project AIR 87 Phase 2 has reviewed the approved scope and budget for those elements required to be delivered by the project. Having reviewed the current financial and contractual obligations of the project, current known risks and estimated future expenditure, Defence considers, as at the reporting date, there was sufficient budget remaining for the project to complete against the agreed scope. As of 30 June 2015, all 22 Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH) had been accepted by the Commonwealth in the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation Readiness configuration; six were being used for training, one of which was also being used to support test activities; and 16 were being used to raise, train and sustain the operational squadrons in Darwin in order to maintain directed levels of capability and to continue capability growth to achieve FOC. All three simulators had been accepted and are being used for aircrew training in Oakey and Darwin.

The rebaselined schedule included all planned engineering activities required to deliver a fully compliant ARH System. Full compliance or Service Release of all Engineering Change Proposals was achieved in May 2013.

Operational readiness of the delivered ARH capability is being progressed by Army. The Operational Capability (OC) 2 milestone, a deployable squadron, was granted by the Chief of Army on 11 July 2013. The OC3 milestone, a deployable squadron plus troop by land into a non-permissive environment, was granted by the Chief of Army on 2 December 2014. The delivery of the remaining items were being managed by the Tiger sustainment organisation and is expected to have minimal impact on the overall ARH capability, noting that the deficiency in the Electronic Warfare System will be corrected in aircraft available to the Capability Manager required to meet FOC.

All major risks identified in the 2013-14 Major Projects Report have been retired from an Acquisition perspective and AIR 87 Phase 2 project closure activities are in progress. The Final Materiel Release (FMR) Approval Certificate, signed by all stakeholders on 19 March 2014, was caveated by the Capability Manager. The caveats to FMR relate to Rate of Effort generation, suitability of the Groundcrew Training Device, Electronic Warfare Self Protection performance, and high cost of ownership. These issues, other than the Groundcrew Training Device suitability which was delivered to the contracted requirements, are being managed by the Tiger sustainment organisation and stem from the less than expected maturity level of Airbus Helicopter’s Tiger program at the time of Acquisition.

Their effect, however, is being realised as poor performance in the Tiger Sustainment System. The Tiger sustainment organisation is actively working with Airbus Group Australia Pacific, and their parent, Airbus Helicopters, to address these issues through the Tiger Sustainment System, noting that the Rate of Effort and cost of ownership issues in particular are significant, complex and are unlikely to be resolved in the short term.

Previously, as a result of the reduction in flying Rate of Effort experienced by the ARH fleet, as well as a requirement to conduct amphibious operations from LHD ships, Army amended its Acceptance into Operational Service Plan, to reflect the associated training delays. Consequently, Chief of Army advised that the previously anticipated achievement date of December 2012 would not be met, and that a date of January 2016 was planned. Chief of Army has since advised that FOC had not been delayed by a new requirement to conduct amphibious operations but that the delay was solely due to the reduced Rate of Effort of the aircraft.

The FOC milestone, full regiment (16 aircraft) by land into a medium threat, non-permissive environment, is progressing to plan with Chief of Army granting the OC2 milestone, a deployable squadron (eight aircraft), on 11 July 2013 and the OC3 milestone, a deployable squadron plus troop (11 aircraft) by land into a non-permissive environment, on 2 December 2014. FOC remained to be achieved by January 2016.

As of early 2016 there was no formal project to replace the Army’s 22 Tiger ARH helicopters. But the Tiger, which has been beset by sustainment issues that have limited its flying rate of effort, has yet to achieve Final Operational Capability (which was originally planned for June 2009 and had been rescheduled to January 2016). The 2016 Integrated Investment Program called for "replacing the Tiger helicopter fleet with a future armed aerial reconnaissance capability from the mid-2020s."

On February 16, 2016 Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced it had signed an agreement with BAE Systems Australia to pursue military rotorcraft opportunities in Australia. Bell Helicopter and BAE Systems Australia signed a teaming agreement that positions them to offer the AH-1Z Viper as a potential early replacement for the Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter (ARH).