TSAMTO, March 4. The Organization for Cooperation in the Field of Armaments (OCCAR) has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the modernization of attack helicopters of the Armed Forces of France and Spain to the Tiger Mk.3 variant.
OCCAR has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters on behalf of the Directorate General of Armaments of France (DGA) and the Directorate General of Armaments and Materiel of the Spanish Armed Forces (DGAM).
The program includes the development of a modernization package, production, delivery and initial support during the operation of upgraded Tiger Mk.3 attack helicopters.
The contract provides for the modernization of 42 helicopters of the French Armed Forces (with an option for 25 helicopters) and 18 helicopters of the Spanish Armed Forces. In addition, the contract provides for the possibility of joining the German program.
The first flight of the first prototype "Tiger" Mk.3 is scheduled for 2025. The first delivery of DGA will take place at the end of 2029, and DGAM - in 2030. Work on the development of the project and modernization will be carried out at the enterprises of Airbus Helicopters in Albacete (Spain), Marignane (France) and Donauwerth (Germany).
According to Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even, the Tiger Mk program.3 will allow European countries to get a modern attack helicopter for the coming decades. According to him, "thanks to modernization, Tiger helicopters will remain an important defense asset."
The Tiger Mk program.3 involves a comprehensive modernization of the systems of the European attack helicopter. The new standard will provide the platform with the ability to be used in the conditions of a "digital battlefield", conducting combat operations as part of groups of manned and unmanned systems, and exchanging tactical information in real time. He will receive an effective set of weapons (cannon, unguided and guided missiles with laser guidance), improved detection and target destruction capabilities. The integration of modern avionics will reduce the load on the crew and allow them to fully focus on performing a specific task.
The standard configuration of the Tiger Mk.3 will include a Strix NG sight from Safran, a FlytX avionics kit from Thales, a TopOwl DD helmet-mounted aiming system from Thales, an upgraded "friend-foe" system from Indra, a Thales satellite navigation system and an inertial navigation system from Safran.
The communications complex will be upgraded by installing Thales tactical Contact/Synaps radios and data transmission channels for the joint use of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles.
In addition, Link16 and SATCOM functions will be enabled for the Spanish Armed Forces. The Spanish version of the Tiger Mk.3 will be equipped with a combat control system and countermeasures developed by Indra, and the French version will be equipped with a combat control system from ATOS and countermeasures from Thales.
The armament package for the French Armed Forces will include a new air-to-ground missile MAST-F (Missile Air-Surface Tactique Futur / Future Tactical Air-to-Surface Missile) developed and manufactured by MBDA Group and a Mistral-3 air-to-air missile. For Spain, the new capabilities will include 70mm guided missiles and a new air-to-ground missile.
At the moment, Airbus Helicopters continues servicing the entire fleet of Tiger helicopters. A corresponding trilateral contract was signed with OCCAR in 2019.
