Eurocopter Tiger

Eurocopter Tigre HAP 2019/BHE 5RHC French ArmyEurocopter Tigre HAP 2019/BHE 5RHC French Army

The Eurocopter Tiger is a four-bladed, twin-engined attack helicopter which first entered service in 2003. It is manufactured by Eurocopter, which designate it as the EC 665. In Germany it is known as the Tiger; in France and Spain it is called the Tigre.

  • Role: Attack helicopter
  • National origin: France/Germany/Spain
  • Manufacturer: Eurocopter, now Airbus Helicopters
  • First flight: 27 April 1991
  • Introduction: 2003
  • Status: Active
  • Produced: 1991–present
  • Number built: 206 planned as of 2013

Military Operators

  • Australian Army
  • French Army
  • German Army
  • Spanish Army

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))
  • Powerplant: 2 × MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshafts, 958 kW (1.303 shp) each
  • Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)

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.

On each of its two inner hardpoints and two outer hardpoints the Eurocopter Tiger can carry a combination of the following weapons:

  • Inner hardpoints:
    • 1x 20 mm (0.787 in) autocannon pods, or
    • 22x 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod, or
    • 19x 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets in a pod or
    • 4x AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (Australia/France) or
    • 4x Spike-ER missiles (Spain) or
    • 4x PARS 3 LR missiles (Germany) or
    • 4x HOT3 missiles (Germany)
  • Outer hardpoints:
    • 2x Mistral air-to-air missiles, or
    • 12x 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod or
    • 7x 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets in a pod