Eurocopter Tiger
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| Missing image Eurocopter_Tiger,_German_colors.jpg A Eurocopter Tiger in German colours. Eurocopter Tiger | ||
| Description | ||
|---|---|---|
| Role | Attack helicopter | |
| Crew | 2 (pilot & weapon systems officer) | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 15.80m (main rotor to tail rotor) | |
| Fuselage length | 14.08 m | |
| Height | 3.83 m (HAP/HCP); 5.20 m inc. mast-mounted sight (HAC/UHT) | |
| Rotor diameter | 13.00 m | |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 3,060 kg | |
| Max. internal fuel | 1,080 kg | |
| Max. take-off | 6,000 kg | |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 2 x Rolls-Royce / Turboméca / MTU MTR390 turboshafts | |
| Power | 873 kW | |
| Performance | ||
| Max. speed | 280 km/h | |
| Combat range (internal fuel) | 800 km | |
| Ferry range (external fuel) | 1300 km | |
| Service ceiling | 4,000 m | |
| Max. rate of climb | 10.7 m/s | |
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 1 x 30 mm cannon in chin turret (HAP,HAD,ARH) 1 x 12.7 mm or 20 mm gun in pod (HAC,UHT) | |
| Missiles | 2 pods of 19 70mm unguided missile SNEB (UHT,HAD) or Hydra/APKWS (ARH) inside 2 pods of 22 68mm unguided missile SNEB (HAP) inside 2 pods of 7 70mm unguided missile SNEB (HAD) or Hydra/APKWS (ARH)outside 2 pods of 12 68mm unguided missile SNEB(HAP) outside 8 x Trigat-LR and/or HOT3 (UHT,HAD, HAC only Hot3) or Hellfire II (ARH) Antitank-missile 4 x Stinger Air-Air-missile (UHT,ARH) outside 4 x Mistral Air-Air-missile (HAP,HAC,HAD)outside | |
The Eurocopter Tiger is an attack helicopter manufactured by the Eurocopter Group. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France it is called the Tigre. It is also designated the EC 665 or PAH-2.
| Contents |
History
In 1984 the French and German governments issued a requirement for an advanced multi-role battlefield helicopter. A joint venture consisting of Aerospatiale and MBB was subsequently chosen as the preferred supplier.
Due to high costs, the program was canceled in 1986, but was relaunched during 1987.
Subsequently, in November 1989, Eurocopter received a contract to build 5 prototypes. Three were to be unarmed testbeds and the other two armed prototypes: one for the German anti-tank variant and the other for the French escort helicopter variant.
The first prototype first flew in April 1991. When Aerospatiale and MBB, among others, merged in 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group, the Tiger program was transferred as well.
The helicopter's first major public appearance was in the 1995 James Bond film GoldenEye, where the theft of a prototype was a major plot point.
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.
The deliveries of the 80 UHT version combat support helicopters ordered by Germany also began at the end of 2003.
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 is scheduled to enter service in 2004. Some local assembly and production will also take place.
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 Trigat and Mistral missile systems. They will also have an uprated Enhanced MTR390 engine and a heavier payload. Deliveries are scheduled for 2007 - 2008. So France opted to upgrade most of its HAP Helicopter to HAD.
Users
The Tiger is used or will be used by the following countries:
- Germany: 80 aircraft - all of the UHT version.
- France: 80 aircraft - 40 HAP and 40 HAD
- Spain: 24 aircraft of the HAD version.
- Australia: 22 aircraft of the ARH version.
Versions
It should be noted that, 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 production attack helicopters. As a consequence, the seats are offset to opposite sides of the centerline to improve the view forward for the gunner in the back.
Tiger HAP/HCP
The Tiger HAP/HCP (i.e. Helicoptere d'Appui Protection or Helicopter for Close Protection) is a medium-weight air-to-air combat and fire support helicopter built for the French Army.
It is fitted with a 30 mm chin-mounted gun turret and 70 mm unguided rockets for the fire support role as well as Mistral air-to-air missiles.
Tiger HAC/UHT
The Tiger UHT (i.e. Unterstützungs-Hubschrauber Tiger or Support Helicopter Tiger) is a medium-weight multi-role fire support helicopter built for the German Army. The Tiger HAC (i.e. Hélicoptère Anti-Char or Helicopter Anti-Tank) is the anti-armour version built for the French Army.
The UHT can carry Trigat "fire and forget" and/or HOT3 anti-tank missiles as well as 70 mm air-to-ground fire support rockets. For air-to-air combat FIM-92 Stinger missiles can be fitted. Unlike the HAP/HCP version it has no integrated gun turret, but a 12.7 mm or 20 mm gun pod can be fitted instead. The HAC version can only carry HOT3 missile.
Another noticeable difference with the HAP/HCP version is the use of a mast-mounted sight which has a second-generation infrared channel and a TV channel.
Countermeasures include radar/laser/missile launch/missile approach warning receivers and decoy launchers.
Tiger ARH
The Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) is the version used by the Australian Army. 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 the SNEB unguided missile, the ARH use the Hydra unguided missile of the Apache.
Tiger HAD
The Tiger HAD version is essentially identical to the UHT version, with 14% more engine power available due to the upgraded Enhanced MTR390 engines. It can also be equipped with the Trigat anti-tank missiles that were originally developed for the German UHT version.
The helicopter is suited for a support and fire suppression role and has been selected to equip the Spanish Army. The French Army Air Corps (ALAT) reportedly also has interest in this type.
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