The TIGER Variants
Under OCCAR-EA management, three main variants have been developed and delivered to France, Germany and Spain: the UHT for Germany (68 UHT delivered), the HAP and HAD for France (40 HAP-F and 31 HAD-F delivered) and Spain (6 HAP-E and 18 HAD-E delivered). While the German UHT variant is mainly oriented to the anti-tank capability, the HAP variant is designed to fulfil escort and protection missions. Developed later one, when Spain joined the programme, the HAD variant adds air-to-ground capability compared to the HAP variant, on top of the enhanced engine and upgraded features. From 2026 onward, there will be no more HAP variant as HAP-E has been decommissioned end of 2020 and HAP-F are currently under retrofit to reach the HAD-F configuration.
In addition to the OCCAR-EA managed variants, the Australian variant ARH is an enhanced version of the HAP-F with Hellfire capability.
While Tiger Helicopter production is over since 2019, Retrofits activities are either ongoing or to be planned. Indeed, HAD and UHT variants are kept up to date through the configuration management process, allowing Nations to cope with battlefield requirements.
- HAP
- HAP-F: Hélicoptère d’Appui et Protection – France
- HAP-E: Helicóptero de Apoyo y Protection – España
With an entry into service in 2005,
The HAP is an escort and close air support helicopter, featuring also air-to-air capability. In this combat support role, its 30 mm turreted gun offers air-to-ground short range firing capability, complemented by the 68 mm rockets for medium to long range and the possibility to target air threats with the MISTRAL missile.
Continuously been deployed since 2009 the HAP proved its precise and versatile combat capabilities. In particular, in the Libyan conflict in 2011, the HAP-F have been operated from the French Navy assault vessel “Tonnerre”. In addition to high and hot conditions already successfully experienced, the HAP-F has demonstrated remarkable deployment flexibility not only from shore but also under the challenging weather and naval circumstances off-shore.
The HAP “STRIX” roof-mounted sight provides a gyro stabilized platform with an infrared camera, charge coupled device television camera, a laser rangefinder and direct optical sight. Associated to the advanced firing controls, the STRIX is an asset for a precise and effective targeting on battlefield.
- UHT
• UHT:
- Unterstützungsh/ubschrauber Tiger – Germany
Originally designed for typical cold-war anti-tank mission, the German TIGER variant (UHT) features a high-end mission equipment package with high-performance mast-mounted sight coupled to air-to-ground missile. The 12.7 mm gun pods under the UHT wings as well as 70 mm rockets and HOT missiles present striking short-range arguments as well. The air self-defence is ensured by STINGER missiles. To cope with new operational requirements, the UHT helicopters are retrofitted into “ASGARD-F” (standing for “Afghanistan Stabilisation German Army Rapid Deployment - Full”), the updated standard developed in front of the deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. This upgrade encompasses additional ballistic protection, engine air particle separation, mission data recorder, SatCom and various software improvements. While DE is not joining the Tiger mid-life upgrade programme, the UHT is kept up to date, in conjunction with incremental SW release plan.
- HAD
- HAD-F: Hélicoptère d’Appui et Destruction – France
- HAD-E: Helicóptero de Ataque y Destrucción – España
Following the entry of Spain on the TIGER Programme in 2004, a major improvement of mission capabilities was launched under the HAD variant, designed for both asymmetric warfare and conventional scenarios with a full range of armament, including the integration of two air-to-ground missiles (wire-guided SPIKE missile for HAD-E and laser-guided HELLFIRE for HAD-F).
On top of this air-to ground capabilities, the HAD configuration is likewise powerful, thanks to the enhanced MTR 390 turboshaft engines providing 14% additional power. The upgraded RMS provides TV camera, thermal imager, laser rangefinder, laser designator, and a laser spot tracker capable of simultaneously following up to four targets. An additional display system is provided with the Helmet-Mounted Sigh Display Binocular (HMSD-B) that presents flight and fire data and enables the crew to interact with, and control, the on-board weapon systems and view targeting data. To maintain Tiger areal superiority, others features have been implemented or upgraded (EUROGRID battlefield management and digital map display systems, integrated radio and data links, IFF transponder/interrogator…).
HAD-E is upgraded through Incremental SW updates and HAD-F is currently retrofitted into MkII standard. Those upgrades are paving the way for the Tiger MkIII midlife upgrade.
- HAD MkIII Midlife upgrade
The Tiger Midlife upgrade project started in 2015 with preliminary activities (architecture study and de-risking activities). The objective of this project is to improve significantly the TIGER global efficiency through a consistent upgrade of its detection, aggression and communication capabilities, by developing a modernized, innovative and life-time extended European attack helicopter. Initially planned for the 3 Nations, MkIII contract was finally signed for ES and FR in March 2022. The contract will allow the upgrade of 67 helicopters for France and 18 helicopters for Spain.
The new design will integrate advanced technologies such as a new avionics suite and an enhanced weapon system. Many systems will be upgraded within this project like the Automatic Flight Control System, the Air Conditioning System, and the navigation system. Mission Capabilities will be enhanced (armaments, radios, visors and sensors…) and enlarged with new ones, especially in the area of the centralized data processing, with data fusion and correlation (battle management, MUM-T, digital communication capabilities).
Overall Tiger MkIII will be a strongly enhanced helicopter, built to meet Nations requests for modernity, to face new operational challenges, while preserving all the current advantages of the existing helicopter. Thanks to all these improvements, Tiger will enter into a new era, by adapting the Weapon Systems to modern state of the art equipment and allows its use for several decades.