Aussie Tiger Begins Tests

[Winter]

A small tidbit:

Australia-bound Eurocopter gets first test flight

PARIS (AFP) Feb 20, 2004

A version of the French- and German-built military helicopter Eurocopter specially designed for the Australian army has started its test flight programme, the helicopter subsidiary of the European aeronautical group EADS said Friday.

The combat aircraft, configured for aerial reconnaissance and fitted with weapons and a data communication set-up made to Australian specifications, has to go through months of qualifying evaluations before it is delivered at the end of the year, Eurocopter said.

Australia selected Eurocopter's Tiger helicopter in 2001 after calling an international tender. The 650-million-dollar (520-million-euro) contract is for 22 of the reconnaissance helicopters.

Source: http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040220172907.p7wjokbf.html

---------

Like the Australian GHUAVs, I'm intrigued by the procurement of these attack helicopters, and their subsequent use and effects in the regional theatre...

What uses would these Tigers have? I cannot imagine a role suited for a Solomons-esque type mission, or even Op. Falconer. I do realise that it would depend upon many variables...But any ideas? :roll

 

[gf0012-aust]

Heres a starboard view:

a frontal aspect:

portside view:

 

[Aussie Digger]

Helicopters of this sort would have been invaluable in Australian operational deployments in Somalia, East Timor and possibly in Cambodia. Their integral escort and attack capabilities in addition to the recon abilities make them perfectly suited for these types of operations. Granted they might not have been of much utility in the Solomons or in Iraq given the forces Australia deployed on these occasions, however Australia is moving towards more "expeditionary" (a word disliked in media circles) capable forces. A capable attack helo is very useful in these situations and is a capability the Australian Army has lacked for many years...

 

[gf0012-aust]

We haven't had dedicated gunships in the past. We've tended to either chop up a Huey (Bushrangers) or retro add a gun mount onto the blackhawks.

As for the Global Hawks, its because Australia has international responsibilities and obligations to protect/defend/patrol 1/9th of the worlds oceans.

It's far easier to to do that with an autonomous unmanned system than with 13 crew on an Orion. By releasing crews from repetitive patrol work, it enables us to develop other capabilities.

When we commission the Global Hawks we will shut down a Squadron of Orions as well. The Global Hawks can view more real estate than the AP3C's.

 

[Winter]

Helicopters of this sort would have been invaluable in Australian operational deployments in Somalia, East Timor and possibly in Cambodia. Their integral escort and attack capabilities in addition to the recon abilities make them perfectly suited for these types of operations. Granted they might not have been of much utility in the Solomons or in Iraq given the forces Australia deployed on these occasions, however Australia is moving towards more "expeditionary" (a word disliked in media circles) capable forces. A capable attack helo is very useful in these situations and is a capability the Australian Army has lacked for many years...

Thanks Aussie Digger and great images, gf0012...Is that Aus. specific camouflage?

 

[gf0012-aust]

Yes it is, but I imagine that we'll also have some done in desert camo as well at some point.

 

[Aussie Digger]

My last post here reads like a marketing brochure... That paint job is the standard Australian Army tri-colour aircraft camouflage pattern. We require gunships because we currently only operate unarmed Kiowa Helicopters in the recon role. The only recon capability they possess is by equipping the co-pilot with a pair of binoculars and perhaps a pair of NVG's. Although I've heard some might be equipped with a FLIR, I've never seen one though and I've seen a few up close... Anyhow the Australian Army requires greater capability than it now possess, hence we're getting the Tigers.

 

[Red aRRow]

Nice! I just love the Tiger. AD or gf can you guys enlighten me on what type of armament will the OZ Tiger be carrying??
And why did the Tiger get chosen over Uncle Sam's hardware availability of the AH-64 or the AH-1(?) Super Cobra????? :?

 

[Aussie Digger]

The "Aussie Tiger" will carry the AGM-114K Hellfire 11 Missile, the SNEB 68mm air to ground rocket in 22 round launchers and the Giap AM 30781 30mm cannon. The aircraft will also be capable of carrying either the Stinger air to air missile or the Mistral air to air missile, though I believe the ADF won't be acquiring such a missile just yet. Our version of the Tiger will be more capable than either the French or the German Versions. As ours is a combination of the French and German aircraft plus ours will be fitted with uprated engines, a laser designator for the Hellfire missile and a higher capability communications suite. We chose the Tiger on a "bang for buck" basis. Plus we don't want to buy every single bit of our equipment from Uncle Sam, people might start to spread vicious rumours... The AH-64D Apache Longgbow and AH-1Z Supercobra were offered to us, but were too expensive for what we were prepared to spend. The Tiger I believe is significantly cheaper to acquire and operate then either of the American machines. These aircraft will be operated in 2, 9 aircraft squadrons, (161 and 162 Recce Squadrons) plus an operational conversion unit (up to 4 aircraft). Both of these squadrons will be located at Robertson Barracks in Darwin. The Operational Conversion unit will be located at the Army School of Aviation at Oakey in Queensland.

 

[Red aRRow]

Cool, thanks mate.

 

[Aussie Digger]

No problems. Oh and the first Tiger has an in service date of December 2004. So far the project is on time and on budget. Something of a first for an Australian Defence acquisition...

 

[umair]

Why did'nt u guys opt for the Trigat F&F ATGM which is in the longbow hellfire(AGM114L) class?Btw the Tiger looks cool.Added advantage it's more crewfriendly than the Apache.Any point to add Gremlin?

 

[gf0012-aust]

Why did'nt u guys opt for the Trigat F&F ATGM which is in the longbow hellfire(AGM114L) class?Btw the Tiger looks cool.Added advantage it's more crewfriendly than the Apache.Any point to add Gremlin?

Other systems just didn't make the evaluation cut. That could have been due to anything from price, logistics impositions, porting complications with the existing FCS etc...

The results aren't released, if they are lucky, then the unsuccessful can try and establish why they lost - but generally that would be privileged info - even to them.

 

[Aussie Digger]

I'm not 100 per cent certain, but I don't think the Trigat was operational when Australian chose the Tiger. We have had a rather bad run with defence acquisitions and we've very much decided to go with "off the shelf" proven systems in our future systems to try and avoid any "problems". Our government has a lot vested politically in the Tiger helicopter to prove our defence acquisition problems are a thing of the past and this, beside proven operational capability is probably the reason the Hellfire was chosen. I can't imagine that there would be much difference in cost, so these and possibly logistical supply problems are the only possible reasons.