Airbus Helicopters is confident that it will be able to launch its Tiger MkIII upgrade programme by year-end after securing agreement from three customers for the modification.
For the last six months Airbus Helicopters has been leading “close technical discussions” between France, Germany and Spain, says chief executive Bruno Even.
The three nations are “converging” on a common configuration for the Tiger MkIII. This should be agreed by year-end in order to officially launch the programme, ahead of a contract being in place by mid-2021.
Airbus Helicopters was in September 2018 awarded a contract by European procurement body OCCAR to perform de-risking studies for the enhancement, which cover the Tiger’s avionics, mission and weapon systems.
Additionally, the airframer expects to complete by year-end or early 2021 feasibility studies for France’s tri-service H160M Guepard programme. “The target is to have this programme launched by summer 2021,” says Even.
First deliveries under the 169-unit acquisition are due in 2026.
