Eurocopter Tiger

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_Tiger

The Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) Tiger is a four-bladed, twin-engined
attack helicopter which first entered service in 2003. It is manufactured by
Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters), the successor company to Aérospatiale's and
DASA's respective helicopter divisions, which designate it as the EC665.
Following their languages, in Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and
Spain it is called the Tigre.

Development of the Tiger started during the Cold War, and it was initially
intended as an anti-tank helicopter platform to be used against a Soviet ground
invasion of Western Europe. During its prolonged development period the Soviet
Union collapsed, but France and Germany chose to proceed with the Tiger,
developing it instead as a multirole attack helicopter. It achieved operational
readiness in 2008.

The Tiger has the distinction of being the first all-composite helicopter
developed in Europe; even the earliest models also incorporate other advanced
features such as a glass cockpit, stealth technology, and high agility to
increase its survivability. Improved variants have since entered service,
outfitted with more powerful engines and compatible with a wider range of
weapons. Since the type's introduction to service, Tigers have been used in
combat in Afghanistan, Libya, and Mali.

The Tiger has a tandem-seat 'glass cockpit' and is operated by a two-man crew;
the pilot is placed in the forward position, with the gunner seated behind.
Either of the crew members can manage the weapon systems or the primary flight
controls, switching roles if necessitated; in addition to flying the aircraft,
the Tiger's pilot would typically be in control of the self-defence systems and
communications, as well as some secondary weapons functions. While some of the
weapons use dedicated control interfaces, such as the anti-tank Trigat missile,
air-to-air weapons can be managed via controls on both sets of collective and
cyclic sticks.

Crew new to the Tiger have to undergo substantial retraining due to the
differences from older platforms, particularly in higher workload management and
the additional capabilities afforded by the type; one major change from
preceding attack helicopters is a far greater degree of operational autonomy.
According to Andrew Warner, chief test pilot during the Tiger's development, it
is "the easiest-handling aircraft I have ever flown".

The system cost (helicopter, armament, support) and unit cost varies between
variants; Australia's Tiger ARH has a price per unit of A$68 million, the latest
Tiger HAD variant is estimated to cost US$44–48 million.


Role
Attack helicopter

National origin
Germany / France / Spain

Manufacturer
Eurocopter
Airbus Helicopters

First flight
27 April 1991

Introduction
2003

Status
In service

Primary users
French Army
Australian Army
German Army
Spanish Army

Produced
1991–present

Number built
135 as of October 2017

Program cost
€14.5bn (France/Germany/Spain, FY2012)

Unit cost

€27.4m (Tiger HAP, FY2013)
€36.1m (Tiger HAD, FY2013)

In July 2009, three French Tiger HAP helicopters of the 5th Helicopter Regiment
arrived at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan, marking the first active
deployment of the Tiger into an active combat zone. The helicopters performed
armed reconnaissance and fire support missions, acting in support of coalition
ground troops fighting a Taliban insurgency. The Tigers had their operational
certification in Afghanistan in early August 2009; one French officer described
the Tiger's role in the theatre as "find, attack, suppress, seize, raid, and
support". By July 2010, it was reported that the Tiger detachment had totalled
1,000 operational hours in Afghanistan. On 4 February 2011, a French Tiger
crashed during a night time operation about 30 miles east of Kabul and both crew
members suffered light injuries.

During December 2012, a total of four German Tiger UHTs were deployed to
Afghanistan. The UHTs operated from Mazar-i-Sharif Air Base inside Afghanistan
performing reconnaissance, ground support, and convoy protection duties. All
Tigers deployed to the zone had previously undergone upgrades under the ASGARD
programme; the modifications include the addition of new defensive systems, sand
filters for the MTR390 engines, and enhancements to the communications suite.
The German Army received the last of the ASGARD-upgraded Tigers in March 2014.
In March 2013, Spain also deployed three Tiger HAPs to the region to operate in
support of Spanish ground forces. From 30 January 2013 to 30 June 2014, German
Tigers in Afghanistan flew 1,860 hours over 260 missions supporting NATO ground
troops, Afghan security forces, and humanitarian relief operations after floods.
None of Germany's four deployed Tigers fired a shot in combat, which the
Bundeswehr attributed to the helicopter's psychological impact through shows of
force being sufficient to counter threats.

Specifications (Tiger HAP)

General characteristics
Crew: Two: pilot and weapon systems officer
Length: 14.08 m fuselage (46 ft 2 in)
Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
Disc area: 133 m² (1,430 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,750 lb)
Loaded weight: 5,090 kg (11,311 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb))
Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshafts, 958 kW (1.303 shp)
each

Performance
Maximum speed: 290 km/h with mast, 315 km/h without mast (157 knots, 181 mph
with mast, 170 knots or 196 mph without mast)
Range: 800 km (430 nm, 500 mi) combat (with external tanks in the inboard
stations: 1,300km)
Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)
Power/mass: 0.23 hp/lb (0.38 kW/kg)

Armament

Guns:
1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30 cannon in chin turret, with up to 450 rounds.




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