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Concept

TIGER Concept 

Designed and produced by Airbus Helicopters from a common platform, complemented with a wide range of specific equipment for each variant, comprising air-to-ground, anti-tank, air-to-air, reconnaissance and force protection capabilities, the TIGER helicopter is the first composite helicopter in Europe. While operating in highly demanding environments like naval, sandy, hot and high conditions, the Tiger helicopter showed in the different operational theatres its agility, survivability and operational effectiveness. It can operate during day or night in all-weather conditions, and has been designed to include operations in the aftermath of nuclear, biological or chemical warfare. It can be easily deployed (air transportation capability) and is fitted to be operated from on-shore as well as off-shore. 

The common platform of all variants promotes: 

• High Maneuverability & Agility through the highly responsive four bladed rigid rotor and the accurate automatic flight control system with sophisticated upper modes. In addition, to cope with TIGER operational requirements, the MTR390 engines have been specifically designed for the TIGER. 
• High Survivability through high crashworthiness, system redundancies and segregation, self-sealing tanks, Kevlar ballistic protection (against 23 mm autocannon fire), Chaff & Flares dispenser. 
• Extended Combat Radius through the extensive use of composite materials (nearly 80% of the airframe) that significantly reduces the weight. With external fuel tanks, the range can be increased up to +50%. 
• Operational Effectiveness through 
• tandem seat arrangement of pilot in the front and gunner in the back, 
• optimized ergonomic settings and 
• sophisticated Man-Machine-Interface (MMI) features which improves the crew’s situational awareness and is fully adapted to mission fulfillment in all situations. 
• Mission Effectiveness through 
• advanced firing controls and modular weapons system (air to ground, air to air, short, mid and long-range capabilities), laser designation, 
• passive Electronic Warfare System, mode 5 Identifier Friend Foe, 
• state of the art Radio Communication System, 
• low Detectability (flat and narrow silhouette, suppression of thermal radiation, low radar IR signature, passive weapon system) and 
• reconnaissance systems, multi-function displays, helmets display, Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR), night vision system. 
• Logistic Footprint: Combat-proven ability to be operated without heavy infrastructure and low maintenance manpower on land and sea platforms. 
• Technical Data: 
• Empty Weight / Maxi Take-Off Weight (MTOW): 4,250 Kg / 6,600 kg 
• Mission duration (standard fuel tanks): 2 h 30 min 
• Maximum endurance with external fuel tank: 5h 
• Fast cruise speed at MTOW SL: 146 kts 
• Max range with standard fuel tanks: 400 NM 
• Service ceiling: -1,640 ft to 13,123 ft