TIGER – A NEW GENERATION OF HELICOPTERS
The TIGER Programme
TIGER – A NEW GENERATION OF HELICOPTERS
The TIGER Programme
History of the Tiger
The Tiger helicopter is a multi-role combat helicopter within the 6-ton
class, fully developed in Europe, and currently in service in France, Spain,
Germany and Australia. It was designed from a common platform complemented
with several sets of equipment building a number of variants tailored to the
customers’ requirements.
Initiated in 1984 by the French
and West German governments that issued a requirement for an advanced
multirole battlefield helicopter, the Programme was placed under OCCAR
Responsibility since its legal status was achieved in 2001. In 2004, Spain
joined the Programme. The through-life management approach applied by
OCCAR-EA and the willingness of Tiger Nations to harmonize together their
requirements in a co-operative approach have been a key factor to maximise
the synergies for cost-effectiveness and to achieve the development of such
complex combat helicopter. Furthermore, Australia ordered in 2001, as an
export customer, 22 Tiger Helicopter in ARH configuration. Although not part
of OCCAR TIGER Programme, OCCAR maintains a close relationship with
Australia, especially since 2009 when Australia was granted with an Observer
Status in the Tiger programme.
Since its entry into
services in 2007, the Tiger Helicopter is capable of undertaking a wide
range of combat missions, including:
- armed
reconnaissance and surveillance,
- ground support
(anti-tank, and friendly assets protection)
- close air
support (escort or air combat)
Fully combat
proven, the TIGER helicopter has become an essential asset during Armed
forces deployment. While operating in highly demanding environments like
naval, sandy, hot and high conditions, it showed in the different
operational theatres its robustness and reliability. It can operate during
day or night in all-weather conditions, and has been designed to include
operations in the aftermath of nuclear, biological or chemical warfare. The
Tiger can also be used in the maritime environment, able to operate from
ships (from frigate to H/C carrier).
In 2015, to pave the way to
the TIGER Helicopter midlife upgrade, and address the main challenges to
come related to obsolescence treatment and growth potential, France, Spain
and Germany decided to jointly launch an architecture study for the TIGER
Helicopter midlife upgrade. The requirements of Nations were focused on
three main objectives:
- anticipate obsolescence
cases, by defining a new avionic, in line with the state of the art of
future aircrafts;
- improve the existing capabilities, such
as armaments, radios, visors and sensors;
- create
additional capabilities, especially in the area of the modern battle
management and communication capabilities in 21st century
scenarios.
This Architecture Study led to
redefine the common architecture baseline for the new Tiger variant, so
called MkIII, based on advanced technologies, with a new avionics suite and
an enhanced weapon system.
While foreseen for France, Spain and
Germany, The MkIII contract was finally signed on the 02 March 2022 by OCCAR
on behalf of France and Spain. Meanwhile, OCCAR-EA continue to actively
support the UHT configuration update in conjunction with the German
incremental SW implementation strategy.
TIGER Participating States
Observer: Australia
