Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter) Tiger, is a four-blade twin-engine helicopter, whose operation began in 2003. Produced by the successor to the helicopter division of Aérospatiale and DASA.
Short review
The development of the Tiger helicopter began during the Cold War. Initially, it was conceived as an anti-tank platform for the fight against the Soviet ground invasion of Western Europe. In the course of work on the aircraft, the Soviet Union collapsed, but France and Germany chose to continue the project with the goal of creating a multi-purpose attack helicopter. He reached operational availability in 2008.
Eurocopter Tiger was the first composite helicopter developed in Europe. His early models were distinguished by such advanced solutions as a glass cabin, low-visibility technology and high maneuverability, increasing its combat survivability. Since then, improved modifications have been put into operation, equipped with more powerful engines and compatible with a wider range of weapons. They were used in battles in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali.
"Tiger" performs a wide range of combat missions, including reconnaissance and surveillance, anti-tank and short-range aviation support, tracking and defense of objects. The helicopter is able to work day and night, in any weather and in the conditions of a nuclear, biological or chemical war. The Tiger can also be used at sea, to take off and land on the deck of ships, including frigates, in extreme weather conditions. The helicopter is characterized by a high level of maneuverability, most of which is associated with the design of its 13-meter 4-blade main rotor. The Tiger can perform aerobatics such as the dead loop and maneuvers with negative overloads. Its power is provided by two FTREC-controlled MTR390 turboshaft engines.
Development history
Eurocopter Tiger is a relatively new combat helicopter developed jointly by the governments of France and Germany. It belongs to the same class as the American Hughes AH-64 Apache, the Russian Ka-50, the Italian Agusta A129 and the South African Denel AH-2.
The idea of creating a joint venture to produce a powerful attack helicopter arose in the mid-1980s. Then the French aviation company Aerospatiale and the German bureau MVV took up work. Despite the financial problems of the program and its closure in just 2 years, the project was resurrected in 1987. At the end of 1989, a contract was signed to build five prototypes, and the first Tiger took off in April 1991. By 1992, the joint Aerospatiale and MBB were reorganized into the Eurocopter Group. Tiger production began in 2002, and shipments from next year.
The EC665 Tiger was designed for France and Germany in three configurations: as a multi-role fire support helicopter (UHT) for the German army, multi-purpose strike (HAD) and combat support (HAP) for the French army. The first flight of the production Tiger HAP model took place in March 2003. France ordered 80 aircraft (40 HAP and 40 HAD), and Germany - 80 combat support helicopters. The first Tiger UHT was delivered in April 2005. In total, it was planned to purchase 120 Tigers for France and 120 for Germany.
In September 2003, Spain selected a version of a fire support helicopter armed with Rafael Spike-ER anti-tank missiles and Mistral air-to-air systems. 24 cars were ordered with an improved MTR390E engine and a larger payload. The first 6 helicopters of the HAP version were delivered to Spain in 2007 and converted to HAD.
France initially placed an order for 70 HAPs and 10 anti-tank HACs, but in December 2005 it was changed to 40 HAPs and 40 HADs. Spain and France signed a helicopter development contract in December 2004. Tiger HAD first flew in December 2007.
Design
The Tiger is able to fly at low altitude, which makes it very vulnerable to ground enemy fire or natural obstacles. Therefore, the survival of the aircraft is given priority. The helicopter fuselage is armored in such a way that it can withstand the direct hit of a 23 mm projectile. This is achieved through the use of structures made of Kevlar, titanium and aluminum with a polymer reinforced with carbon fiber. Carbon fiber makes up at least 80% of the composite, titanium - 6%, and aluminum - 11%. Frames and beams are made of Kevlar and carbon laminates. The panels are made of Nomex honeycomb material with an outer layer of carbon and Kevlar. Inside this highly efficient shell, lightning protection, modern radio electronics (including GPS, radars and computers) and a targeting system integrated into the helmets of crew members are installed.
The blades are made of fiber composite. Structures and surfaces reflecting radar radiation were minimized.
Externally, the Eurocopter Tiger follows the design philosophy of modern helicopters. The crew of two people is located in a double cabin with a step layout with front, top and side visibility. Unlike other attack helicopters, the pilot is in front. The entrance to his cockpit is located on the left, and in the cockpit of the gunner - on the right. The seats are slightly offset from the central axis to improve visibility from each position. The nose has a noticeable slope, and the narrow fuselage takes advantage of flat sides with rounded edges. The undercarriage is fixed and consists of two front wheels and a rear wheel. The helicopter is equipped with a main vertical stabilizer with two additional vertical ribs coming out of its base. The engines are located near the center of gravity of the machine.
The navigation system consists of two Thales Avionique triaxial ring laser gyroscopes, two magnetometers, two flight computers, a 4-beam Doppler radar station BAE Systems Canada CMA 2012, a radio altimeter, a global positioning system and a set of low airspeed sensors.
The armament for the Tiger series is located under the wings. Air-to-air, air-to-ground and anti-tank missiles can be mounted on a helicopter. The wings are located directly behind and below the cockpit and have excellent polyhedral bending. The weapon that is mounted on the front depends on the choice of the customer. For example, the French models were equipped with a 30-mm gun GIAT 30, and the German - 30 mm Rheinmetall.
Main characteristics:
- dimensions: 14.08 x 13 x 3.83 m;
- diameter of the main / steering rotor: 13 / 2.7 m;
- maximum weight / without load: 6 / 3.06 t;
- speed: 315 km / h;
- rise speed: 642 m / min;
- flight range: 800 km;
- maximum flight altitude: 13 km.
Crew
The helicopter is equipped with a glass cockpit with two seats and is controlled by a crew of two people. The pilot is in front, and the gunner is sitting in the back. Any member of the crew can control weapons or basic flight controls, changing roles if necessary. In addition to controlling the helicopter, the Tiger pilot, as a rule, controls the defense and communication systems, as well as some secondary weapon functions. For some types of weapons (for example, Trigat anti-tank missiles), special control interfaces are provided, and air-to-air missiles can be controlled using the controls of both crew members.
Cabin
Each cockpit is equipped with two multifunctional color displays manufactured by Thales Avionique and VDO Luftfahrtgerate Werk, which display the arrow sight, FLIR and the video of the Dornier / VDO Eurogrid digital map generator.
The French Tigre is equipped with TopOwl sights manufactured by Thales Avionique, which are mounted on the helmets of both crew members and in the form of a display in the cockpit. The teams of the Tiger helicopter in Germany are equipped with helmets with a day and night vision system. In Australian versions, helmets are equipped with an ADI sight display.
Each cabin has a control and display unit that controls navigation and communication systems. It includes a data input device and a removable memory unit, pre-programmed mission data at the ground station.
Remedies
EADS Defense Electronics provides the EWS electronic warfare kit, which includes a radar warning system, laser guidance, missile launches, a Thales central processor and MBDA SAPHIR-M dipole reflector and infrared trap. A similar system is installed on the NH 90 helicopter. Indra manufactures electronic warfare kits for the Spanish Tigers.
Power point
The characteristics of the helicopter are impressive: its maximum speed is 315 km / h, and the flight range is 800 km (and up to 1300 km due to the use of additional fuel tanks). The power of the 4-blade propeller and 3-blade tail rotor is provided by two Rolls-Royce MTR390 engines. The sight can be mounted above the main rotor by reducing the maximum speed to 290 km / h. The tail propeller is located on the right side of the tail.
The Tiger HAP and UHT models are equipped with two MTR390 turbo engines with a capacity of 960 kW (1285 hp). Their self-locking shockproof fuel tanks are equipped with an explosion suppression system and check valves.
The Tiger HAD is equipped with two advanced MTR390-E engines with a capacity of 1,094 kW (1,467 hp).
Tiger uht
UHT Tiger helicopters are equipped with a SAGEM Osiris sight with a charge-coupled infrared camera (IRCCD) and a laser rangefinder. An infrared FLIR sensor with a viewing angle of 40 ° x 30 ° is installed on the nose.
The Tiger can be equipped with 4 MBDA Mistral or Raytheon Stinger missiles. The controls for the air-to-air system are located on the flight control handle. Capture the target manually using the joystick or automatically. The FIM-92 Stinger missile, also licensed under EADS (formerly LFK), is equipped with a 1-kg warhead and has a range of up to 5 km. The Mistral warhead weighs 3 kg and has a flight range of 6 km.
The Tiger multi-purpose fire support helicopter is equipped with ATGMs for launching the Euromissile NOT 3 and Euromissile TRIGAT LR anti-tank guns. Only one type of weapon is activated at a time.
The range of the TRIGAT LR missile is from 500 to 5000 m, and it can be used in direct attack or dive modes.
HOT 3 has a range of up to 4000 m.
In June 2006, Germany placed a contract for the supply of missiles PARS 3 (TRIGAT LR). By 2014, 680 units were delivered for arming the German UHT Tiger helicopter.
The Australian Tiger ARH is equipped with an M299 launcher for the Hellfire II, as well as 70mm rockets.
Tiger had
French HAD Tiger helicopters are armed with eight Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles with laser guidance and a flight range of more than 8 km.
The Spanish HAD is armed with an air-to-ground Rafael Spike-ER.
The modification is also armed with a 30 mm Nexter cannon, 70 mm missiles and 4 Mistrals. The Sagem Strix optical aiming system is installed above the cab.
In December 2015, the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) placed an order for 7 combat Tiger HADs. In December 2017, French aviation received its first modified helicopter manufactured by Airbus.
Tiger arh
The ARH Tiger Reconnaissance Helicopter, manufactured for Australia, is equipped with an M299 launcher for Hellfire II, and is armed with 70mm Hydra missiles, a 30mm Nexter cannon and 4 air-to-air Stinger systems.
In December 2001, the Tiger ARH was ordered by the Australian army in the amount of 22 units. This is a modified version of the “HAP Tiger” with upgraded MTR390 engines, a laser pointer included in the Strix sight for pointing Hellfire II air-to-ground missiles, and M299 smart launchers.
Tiger ARH first took off in February 2004, and its deliveries began in December 2004. Adopted in 2008
For the assembly of helicopters and the manufacture of spare parts, the Eurocopter Australian Aerospace division established local production in Australia. ADI Ltd is a major subcontractor responsible for mission and communications systems.
Tiger hap
As a combat support helicopter, the HAP Tiger is equipped with a cannon for close combat, 68-mm long-range and long-range missiles, and Mistrals to combat air threats. The model is armed with a 30-mm turret gun and either four Mistral and 44 missiles or 68 missiles. Only one type of weapon can be activated at a time.
The French Army Tiger HAP helicopter is equipped with a 30-mm Nexter AM-30781 automatic cannon. The rate of fire is 750 rounds per minute. The Tiger NAR is also armed with four Mistrals and two hanging containers, each of which holds 22 68 mm SNEB missiles.
The Tiger HAP is equipped with a SAGEM Strix super-telescope optical aiming system mounted on a gyro-stabilized platform, infrared and television cameras with charge coupling, a laser rangefinder and a direct optical sight.
The helicopter can be deployed on the ships of the French Navy class "Mistral" and "Fudr" and on the aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle".
How much is a helicopter?
"Tiger" is produced in 4 main versions, designed for different countries. Today, helicopters are used by Spain, France, Germany, Australia and Saudi Arabia. Australian "Tigers" gather in Australia, and Saudi Arabia signed in 2006 a contract for the supply of 142 units of several versions.
The cost of one Tiger is from 27 to 35 million euros, and the entire program - 14.5 billion euros. It is difficult to say exactly how much a helicopter costs, since its price depends on the particular implementation. For example, Tiger HAD is valued at $ 44–48 million.
In general, it is expected that the Eurocopter Tiger will be in service with European countries and beyond. In May 2018, the governments of France and Germany approved the third modernization of the helicopter, thanks to which the machine will remain competitive until 2040.