French decision is seen as crucial in persuading Madrid to take Eurocopter option
Eurocopter will undertake a major project to develop a new version of the Tiger attack helicopter if it is selected by Spain, says chief executive Jean-François Bigay. Spain is expected to choose either the Boeing AH-64 Apache or Tiger later this year to meet its 20 to 25 attack helicopter requirement.
The new Tiger version, known as the HAD, is a combination of the anti-tank and combat support reconnaissance variants developed for France and Germany. Eurocopter is a subsidiary of EADS, which is partly Spanish owned.
Bigay says France is also keen to procure the system as it could be delivered from 2006, given it is a derivative of an existing model.
French army deputy chief of staff Gen Henri Marescaux, says that, as the French army now had fewer personnel, it was "appropriate to restrict the [total] number of aircraft - possible with a multirole aircraft easily reconfigured for different missions".
Eurocopter says the Spanish decision probably hinges on a final French choice. Marescaux says "Spanish and French versions would share 90% of features".
The French ministry of defence told Flight International that "present negotiations with our German partner are centred on financing" to adapt current versions of the Tiger to the HAD version.
Germany's UHT version and the similar French HAC have been developed as anti-tank machines. The German helicopter is to enter service at the end of this year, and the French in 2011. The HAP version has been developed for France for combat support, reconnaissance, escort and air combat roles. Service entry is due next year.
The HAP is also essentially the version ordered by Australia last year. Changes to the Australian Tigers include a laser designator incorporated into the sight to provide a capability with the Lockheed Martin AGM-114 Hellfire. Differences between the anti-tank machines and the HAP are the former's mast-mounted sight in-place of the HAP's roof-mounted equivalent, and a nose-mounted gun-turret. Also the HAC/UHT are compatible with anti-armour weapons.
A proposed HAD version would be derived from the Australian machine, combining "anti-tank and combat support capabilities," says Eurocopter.
Source: Flight International
