HAP, UHT Certs Pave Way For Entry Into Service
OCCAR, the European Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation
managing the Tiger combat helicopter program, issued its final
qualification of the HAP (Hélicoptère d’Appui
Protection) and UHT (Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger)
versions for France and Germany, respectively. The OCCAR
certifications were issued jointly with the DGA
(Délégation Générale pour
l’Armement) and the BWB (Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und
Beschaffung.)
Eurocopter says the joint qualification is the third and final
step in the development of these two versions of the attack helo.
The initial qualification to the PBL001 standard was issued in
2004, allowing the helicopters to be used for training missions at
the Franco-German Tiger Training Academy. The second step was the
delivery of the helicopters – qualified to the PBL002
standard – with all of their operational functionalities.
The final qualification step fixed the solutions finally adopted
for the remaining open points and added extra functionalities, such
as a naval capacity and the integration of a datalink for the HAP
Tiger, as well as the integration of new encrypted radio systems
and data links for the UHT version. This final step therefore paves
the way for the Tiger’s operational entry into service and
its use in external operations.
France has ordered 40 HAP versions of the Tiger. These aircraft
have a 30-mm gun turret, 68-mm rockets, a Strix roof-mounted sight,
and air-to-air Mistral missiles. Eighteen HAP Tigers have already
been delivered, including the three initial Standard 1 aircraft.
The UHT version ordered by Germany (80 aircraft in total) has 12.7
mm machine gun pods, 70-mm rockets, Stinger air-to-air missiles,
Hot and Trigat anti-tank missiles, and an Osiris mast-mounted
sight. Germany has received ten UHT Tigers qualified to the PBL001
and PBL002 standards.
Eurocopter bills the Tiger as "currently the most modern combat
helicopter in the world." In total, 206 aircraft have been ordered
by France, Germany, Australia and Spain. 48 Tigers have already
been delivered, with over 13,000 flight hours recorded.
Australia ordered 22 ARH (armed reconnaissance helicopter)
versions of the Tiger, and 15 of these aircraft are now in service.
The ARH version will receive its final qualification in 2009. The
HAD (Hélicoptère Appui Destruction) version for
France and Spain performed its maiden flight in December 2007, and
the first deliveries are scheduled for 2011.
France has ordered 40 HAD Tigers and Spain has ordered 24 of
these helicopters, including six retrofitted versions of their HAP
aircraft (out of which 5 have been delivered).
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