FLUG REVUE June 2002: First series-Tiger rolls out

EUROCOPTER: ROLL OUT OF THE FIRST PRODUCTION TIGER

By Karl Schwarz

When the Tiger development contract was signed back on 30 November 1989, Eurocopter did not yet exist, let alone EADS. Instead, it was a case of MBB and Aérospatiale teaming up to build a joint attack helicopter for the German and French army aviation. It took a good five years and a lot of nerves to convert the wish formally expressed by the politicians in 1984 into a programme that was viable for all the parties involved.

Eurocopter Tiger: Roll-out of series helicopter

Eurocopter Tiger: Roll-out of series helicopter

"We have come a long way to make this big day possible,” said Eurocopter President Jean-François Bigay on the occasion of the official unveiling of the first full production helicopter on 22 March in Donauwörth. It was not without good reason that he thanked the armed forces and the responsible politicians for their support – serious doubts have been voiced on more than one occasion in recent years over the future of a programme whose origins can be traced back to the the Cold War era.

Of course as far as the manufacturer is concerned, such doubts are not justified. Thus Eurocopter never misses an opportunity to promote the Tiger as a "true multi-role machine” that is optimally suited for the new challenges facing the European armed forces in regional conflicts. The Tiger, which, according to Eurocopter, is the most agile combat helicopter of the world today, can take on a variety of missions, ranging from battlefield support for ground forces and precision targeting of tanks and other targets, through to armed reconnaissance or escort for transport helicopters.

German army aviation at any rate is waiting for the Tiger with a sense of urgency, the new helicopter being the central element of the new concept of combined weapon operations. For state secretary Klaus-Günther Biederbeck the advent of the Tiger is actually "a visible signal for the renewal of the German Armed Forces from the bottom up”.

However, the first operational units in Fritzlar and Roth will have to be patient until the end of 2004. The first 14 German support helicopters (UHT = Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger), like the first 14 French Tigre HAP (Hélicoptère d´Appui et de Protection), will be going to Le Luc-en-Provence, where on 17 December 2001 the symbolic foundation stone was laid for the École Franco-Allemande (EFA).

The first German and French army aviation pilots are scheduled to commence training there in July 2003. The first combat crew will undergo training in 2004. By 2007/2008, the joint school will have the capacity to train 140 crew members per year. It will be fitted with state-of-the-art simulators and computer-based training equipment.

Technical support for the Tiger in Le Luc from industry is assured initially for two years, with the option of an extension to up to five years. The technical logistics personnel will not commence training in the bilateral facility in Fassberg until the end of 2003, with a view to being available to the regiments from the end of 2004.

But after that the Germans are planning to reach a co-operative agreement with industry. A national System Support Centre (SSC) is to be set up in Ottobrunn. This will be operated along the same co-operative model that has been introduced on the Eurofighter programme. As well as general system support, the SSC will also undertake software maintenance and modification for the UHT and NH90. Again, it is planned to base the maintenance of airframes and engine around co-operative models as well. This will limit the extent of joint activities with France to the joint procurement of equipment spares and replacement parts.

Thus, a lot of work remains to be done to get the Tiger into service. "We are determined to stick to the delivery dates in order to retain the confidence of the customer,” said Eurocopter President Jean-François Bigay. The first German aircraft is to be handed over on 16 December, and the first French one next June.

Between now and then, despite over 3,050 flying hours to date, there is still some further development work to be carried out. In the case of the UHT, this involves modifications for integration of the 70 mm fire-and-forget missiles (68 mm missiles were previously envisaged) and additional tests with the long-range PARS 3LR anti-tank missile (TRIGAT). Firing tests are also to be carried out in the course of field trials at the end of 2002/2003.

By the autumn of next year at the latest, the helicopter should then be cleared to use all its armaments. However, the PARS 3LR will not yet be available then. "On current plans, it is intended buy the missiles in in time for the first combat-ready squadron equivalent,” said a spokesman at the defence ministry. A proposal has been submitted from industry, and this could be processed in parliament this year.

The Tiger is not immune from the problems of tight funding, and what will happen after the first orders for 80 helicopters from each of the partner nations is thus in the hands of the gods. "We now expect that both countries will purchase around 120 Tigers (compared with approx. 210),” Jean-François Bigay conceded in an interview at the beginning of April. With a lead time of 36 months, decisions will have to be made in 2008.

Until then, Eurocopter plans to win additional export orders following its success in Australia last December. "We have a good product and we can also offer attractive prices,” Bigay is convinced. But on top of that, political support plays a critical role. "We need to bargain like the USA does,” he warned in Donauwörth, "otherwise we cannot succeed.”

The primary target at present is Spain, where a decision is due to be made in the course of the year on the procurement of two dozen helicopters. The Boeing AH-64D is a strong contender here. "All the pilots are keen on the Apache,” concedes Bigay.

A critical factor could be the argument that Spain should acquire a version is identical to either the German or French model. The country evidently prefers a combination of elements of the HAP with improved anti-tank capability. Such a model might also be purchased by France as an "HAD” (Hélicoptère Appui-Destruction), although it is unclear who would pay the development costs. Otherwise, the Spanish are asking for a more powerful engine. This could then be used as an element of the industrial offset programme that Spain is asking for.

Apart from Spain, Eurocopter sees another sales opportunity in Finland. But on the whole, the company is cautious in its estimates of the attack helicopter market. Over a period of 10 years it believes this could run to between 200 and 400 aircraft. Of these, the company is hoping to win 50 per cent.

From page 68 of FLUG REVUE 6/2002

Last updated 2 May 2002

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