01 December 2011 - by the Shephard News Team
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has taken delivery of the last production Tiger Helicopter, delivered by Australian Aerospace, a Eurocopter company. The handover took place at a ceremony at Australian Aerospace's Final Assembly plant at Brisbane Airport.
The Tiger ARH022 was acquired by the ADF under Project Air 87 to replace the existing rotary-wing force comprising Bell 206B-1 (Kiowa) reconnaissance and UH1-H (Iroquois) gunship helicopters. The Tigers have been deployed with the Army's 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin, the Army Aviation Training Centre at Oakey in Queensland and at RAAF Edinburgh, in South Australia.
Under Project AIR 87, as well as assembly of the Tigers and delivery of ground crew training systems, Australian Aerospace is also responsible for the overall program management and Through-Life-Support (TLS) of the helicopters throughout their service life.
According to the company, the Tiger ARH is the world's most advanced armed reconnaissance helicopter, comprising a streamlined design incorporating cutting-edge technologies. The largely composite airframe makes the Tiger lighter, faster and more agile than its competitors and reduces the helicopter's radar cross-section. Equipped to carry a 30mm turreted-cannon in the nose, 70mm rockets and Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, the Tiger can detect and engage targets at long distances.
The helicopter is also entering into service with armed forces around the world including operational use by French Army in Afghanistan.
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