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Eurocopter
Tiger
Greece, the Netherlands and the UK
have taken the route of purchasing
the combat-proven American AH-64D
Longbow Apache, while Italy has developed
its own anti-tank helicopter, the
A129 Mangusta. France and Germany
have been developing the Eurocopter
AS665 Tiger anti-tank helicopter since
the late 1980s. The prototype first
flew in 1991 and the type has since
been ordered by Australia and Spain.
There are three
different versions of the Tiger (or
Tigre in French service) available.
The German UHT (Unterstützung Hubschrauber
Tiger) and the French HAP (Hélicoptère
d’Appui Protection) variants are
equipped with eight Trigat LR or HOT
3 anti-tank missiles and are tasked
with anti-armour, armed reconnaissance
and escort roles. All variants other
than the German UHT are equipped with
a Nexter supplied chin-mounted 30mm
cannon. The HAP variant can also be
armed with 68mm SNEB rockets and four
Mistral air-to-air missiles. The UHT
features Sagem Défense Sécurité’s
Osiris mast-mounted sight as well
as 70mm Hydra rockets, eight HOT3
anti-tank missiles or four AIM-92
Stinger air-to-air missiles. It can
also carry a single 12.7mm or 20mm
pod-mounted gun and will eventually
be equipped with up to eight Trigat
anti-armour missiles, which have been
developed by Diehl BGT Defence and
LFK and will be known as the PARS
3 LR in German service from 2014.
The French HAD (Hélicoptère d’Attaque
et Destruction) is tasked with
the same roles, but is equipped with
up to with eight AGM-114 Hellfire
anti-armour missiles, four Mistral
air-to-air missiles, Hydra rockets
or 70mm SNEB rockets for close air
support (CAS) and engaging enemy aircraft.
The Spanish HAD will be equipped with
up to eight Rafael Spike-ER missiles.
The HAP and HAD variants feature a
roof-mounted Strix day/night sight
supplied by Sagem Défense Sécurité.
The Tiger’s two aircrew are equipped
with a choice of a Thales TopOwl helmet-mounted
sight (French versions) or a helmet-mounted
display systems supplied by BAE Systems
(UHT). All types are powered by two
1,170 shp (873 kW) MTR390 turboshaft
engines developed by MTU Turbomeca
Rolls-Royce (MTR) GmbH, a consortium
of France's Turbomeca, Germany's MTU
Aero Engines and the UK's Rolls-Royce,
providing the helicopter with a maximum
speed of about 151 knots (280 km/h)
with a range of about 800km.
France and Germany
have so far purchased a total of 160
Tigers (40 HAP and 40 HAD variants
for France and 80 UHT variants for
Germany), but have a combined requirement
for up to 360 helicopters. Deliveries
began in 2003 and will continue until
2008. Australia ordered 22 Tiger HAPs
in 2001, which feature modified engines
and are armed with Hellfire anti-tank
missiles. These are assembled in Australia
by Australian Aerospace, which is
owned by Eurocopter, and are designated
the Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance
Helicopter). Deliveries to the Australian
Army began in 2004 and are due to
be completed by 2008. Spain ordered
24 HAD variants in 2003, with full
deliveries expected from 2010. Six
helicopters in the HAP configuration
have already been delivered. The first
HAD variant flew from Eurocopter's
plant at Marigane in France in December
2007. As of December 2007, a total
of 30 helicopters had been delivered
to customers.
Web:
www.eurocopter.com
Data
Overall
length: 14.08 m
Height: 3.83 m
Rotor diameter: 13.00 m
Max take-off weight: 13,000
lb (6,000 kg)
Powerplant: 2 x MTR390 turboshafts
each rated at 1,170 shp (873 kW)
Max speed: 151 knots (280 km/h)
Range: 800 km
Crew: 2
Status: in production and undergoing
delivery. On order for Australia (22),
France (80), Germany (80) and Spain
(24).
This
information is reproduced from the
EU Defence Industry market report.
Click
here for further information and
to purchase online.
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