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Military


PAH-2 Tiger Variants

  1. The Tiger HAP (Hélicoptère d'Appui et de Protection) is an air-to-air combat and fire support medium-weight (6 ton) helicopter fitted with 2 MTR 390 engines. It is daytime and night combat capable and is operable in NBC environments. Three basic parameters were taken into account right from the start of the development phase: low (visual, radar and infrared) detectability, which provides excellent survivability on the battlefield, maximum efficiency of the weapons and the associated fire control systems without heavier workload for the crew, and an optimized logistic concept offering minimum ownership costs. The Tiger HAP is fitted with a 30-mm gun turret; 68-mm submunition rokets, and air-to-air Mistral missiles. It also features a firing sight with 3 sensors: infrared, TV camera and direct optical channel. The complete avionics suite includes multi-purpose color displays and radar/laser warning receivers. The MTR390 high technology propulsion system was designed for the new twin-engined Franco-German Tiger attack helicopter.

  2. The Tiger UHT (Unterstützungs Hubschrauber Tiger, i.e. Combat Support Helicopter Tiger) is a multi-role fire support helicopter. The Trigat Fire and Forget missiles and/or the Hot missiles it carries offer anti-tank capability, while 68-mm rockets ensure air-to-ground fire support. A 12.7 mm air-to-air gun pod and air-to-air Stinger missiles can also be installed. The helicopter features a mast-mounted sight with a second-generation IRCCD infrared channel and a TV channel, as well as a nose-mounted IRCCD control FLIR for the pilot. Countermeasures include radar/laser/missiles launch/missile approach warning receivers and decoy launchers. 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.

  3. The Tiger HAD (Hélicoptère Appui Destruction) [initially HAC - Hélicoptère Anti Char] is an anti-tank helicopter which supports the same equipment as the Tiger UHT. Weaponry includes Trigat and/or Hot anti-tank missiles and air-to-air Mistral missiles. Mid-December 2007 saw the maiden flight of the Had version of the Eurocopter Tiger (serial # 5001) in Marignane, France. This event was unique as it was the exact date for the first flight that was forecast in the development contract signed in 2005. The development of the HAD version was proceeding according to plan, and under which Spain would receive its first aircraft from 2011 onwards. The HAD development will lead to a qualification in 2010 and deliveries from 2010 to 2014. The Spanish HAD helicopters will be assembled in Eurocopter's Spanish Albacete site, documenting the great technological expertise of the group's Spanish third pillar. The French HAD will be produced in the group's main plant in Marignane. The HAD offers increased flexibility as it can be equipped with anti-tank missiles, and greater power as well thanks to its MTR390 Enhanced engine (MTR390-E), which offers 14% more takeoff power than the MTR390-2C engines installed on the HAP, UHT and ARH Tigers. The new engine can also handle the Tiger's augmented maximum take-off weight, which has increased from 6.1 to 6.6 metric tons.

  4. The Australian Army's fleet of Tiger (ARH) Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters was developed by Eurocopter. In an international competition, on 14 August 2001 the Australian government decided in favor of Eurocopter's Tiger combat helicopter. This selection proves, beyond the technical qualities, the effectiveness of EADS as a group in providing the operation with the necessary support, and in developing industrial partnerships through the acquisition of other companies and by implementing compensation programs. The company had contracts to supply 22 ARH Tiger helicopters, 15 of which had been delivered bt mid-2009.

The export drive promised further successful sales. By 1 September 2007, a total of 26 helicopters had been delivered to four customer countries - ten to France, seven to Australia, six to Germany and three to Spain - and had accumulated 8,200 flying hours, 5,000 of those since the date of delivery. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, the Tiger was steadily taking possession of its hunting grounds. As of 2008, 206 Tigers had been ordered in the aircraft's four main versions.

  • Germany had ordered 80 Tigers in the UHT (support helicopter) version.
  • France had ordered 40 aircraft in the HAP (French combat support helicopter) version plus 40 HAD (support and destruction helicopter) version Tigers.
  • Spain ordered 24 Tigers: six HAP and 18 HAD version aircraft. The six HAP Tigers would later be raised to the HAD standard when this version was fully qualified. Spain was one of two customers for the HAD version of the Tiger: the Spanish armed forces had ordered 24 of these aircraft.
  • Australia has ordered 22 ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) Tigers.

In the summer of 2008, Tiger helicopters were deployed for their first combat missions. Three HAP Tigers from the French Army Air Corps (the ALAT) operated by the 5th Regiment of Combat Helicopters, based in Pau, were sent to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). By late 2009 they were performing missions on a daily basis in the Afghan theater, which is known for its demanding operating conditions. By the end of 2009 nearly fifty Tigers had been delivered and had already logged more than 13,000 flight hours.

In Australia Tiger had been plagued with maintenance and serviceability issues, including cockpit gases which have disabled crew mid-flight. Its lack of international [ie, US] interoperability meant that it had not been deployed operationally so that its promised but unfulfilled battlefield capabilities have not been available to Australian forces who had to rely on allies [aka the USofA] for attack helicopter support. Since entering service in 2004 Australia’s 22 Tigers had not achieved Final Operational Capability, originally set for 2009 then extended to January 2016. A $2 billion planned midlife upgrade was cancelled and the Minstry of Defense indicated it would look to replace the capability with a lighter armed reconnaissance helicopter which could also carry some troops.

Airbus Helicopters is developing the new version of the Tiger helicopter. The development of the Mk3 was contracted by OCCAR, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation. A European organization that manages armament projects between Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. OCCAR is working with Australia to keep modernizing their current fleet of Tiger ARH. But Australia had been highly critical of its 22-strong Tiger fleet and in the 2016 Defence White Paper which stated "The Government will replace the 22 Tiger Armed Reconnaissance helicopters with a new armed reconnaissance capability from the mid-2020s."

In October 2020, Airbus Australia Pacific managing director Andrew Mathewson called for an open competition to fulfil Defence’s requirement for 29 replacement armed reconnaissance helicopters amid media reports that Defence was negotiating a sole source foreign military sales acquisition of the Apache.

Defence announced 15 January 2021 it would acquire the Apache Helicopter — a proven off-the-shelf capability — to replace the Army's existing Aussie Tiger Helicopters. The Defence Minister Linda Reynolds gave the following reasons for selecting the Boeing Apache Guardian Helicopter as a replacement for the Aussie Tiger' helicopters:

  • It will strengthen our reconnaissance force.
  • It possesses a proven ability and an off-the-shelf operating system.
  • Low-risk option as it has a proven track record and meets all of Defence's capability requirements.
  • By selecting a proven system, Defence will avoid the ongoing costs associated with developing capability.

Defence chose the Apache due to:

  • Its lower operating costs, proven reliability.
  • It possesses advanced satellite communications.
  • Can access the Link 16 tactical data network.
  • Can share data with other ADF platforms.
  • As a proven design, it is a low-risk acquisition.

The Apache needed to be considered an ADF, rather than just an Army, asset and should therefore be fully integrated with capability systems across the ADF, considering the anticipated the benefits of acquiring a proven off-the-shelf capability.




The Tiger helicopter is an example of Franco-German cooperation; developed jointly, it is a proven success both in training and in operations. The EC665 Tiger helicopter was developed for France and Germany in three configurations, UHT multirole fire support for the German army and HAD and HAP multirole combat support for the French army. Tiger is built by Airbus Helicopters. Combat helicopter units provide the manoeuvre with the ability to act rapidly, even in the depth of the enemy set up. They give the airland manoeuvre an immediate long range. Its high speed and maneuverability are optimal for tactical flight. It has a high level of stealth and survivability. The HAP version has a 30 mm cannon and rockets and can carry four Mistral air-to-air missiles. The HAD version can also carry ground-based destruction missiles. The program takes into account the production of helicopters in HAP and HAD versions and then the gradual transformation into a homogeneous HAD fleet. It is also agreed to integrate 68 mm laser-guided rockets into the framework of the standard Tiger 2. A "Standard Tiger 3" operation is planned to extend the life of the system and adapt it to probable changes in operational engagement conditions. The DGA ordered 71 helicopters. The industrial prime contractor is Airbus Helicopters. The programme is carried out in cooperation with Germany and, from 2004, with Spain (HAD) within the framework of the Joint Armament Cooperation Organisation (OCCAR).



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