Tiger attack helicopter. Attack helicopter "Tiger" of the Bundeswehr Army Aviation. Development of combat capabilities

In 1984, Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blom and Aerospatial began joint development of a new anti-tank helicopter for Germany and France, and in 1987, after the approval of the Franco-German joint program based on the projects proposed by the companies, two anti-tank helicopters for the German armies and France and a close support combat helicopter for the French army, it was decided to develop them in the 1990s; the development contract was signed on September 28, 1988. Management of the program was divided equally between Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blom (MBB) and Aerospatiale.

To develop this program, the Eurocopter consortium was created, whose leadership was located in Paris. Responsible for the program was the German Federal Office for Defense Equipment and Weapon Systems Procurement.

The high cost of the initially proposed three helicopter options was the reason for the temporary suspension of the program in 1986 with a reassessment of the requirements for helicopters and their characteristics. In 1988, the program was continued on the basis of the development of an anti-tank helicopter common to both countries and a variant of a close support helicopter for the French army. The decision on full-scale development was made on December 8, 1987. The following helicopter options are being developed:

RAN-2 (Panzerabwehr Hubschzauber) “Tiger” is a second-generation version of the anti-tank helicopter for the German army. The start of deliveries is scheduled for 1998. The underwing pylons can accommodate up to eight Hot ATGMs and four Stinger air-to-air missiles for self-defense. There is an over-the-sleeve sighting system that includes a TV camera, an on-board Flir IR system, a tracking device and a laser rangefinder; There is also a Flir surveillance system located in the nose of the helicopter and intended for the pilot. In the future, instead of the "Hot" ATGM, the helicopter's armament could be up to 8 Euromissile "Trigat" fire-and-forget ATGMs with an IR guidance system and long range flight or four ATGM "Trigat" and four "Hot-2".

US (Helicoptere Anti Char) "Tiger" is an anti-tank version of the helicopter for the French army. The start of deliveries is planned for 1998. The wing pylons can accommodate up to 8 Hot-2 or Trigat ATGMs and four Mistral air-to-air missiles. The helmet-mounted sight and the Flir system for the pilot are the same as those of the RAN-2 helicopter.

NAR (Helicoptere d "Appui Protection) "Gerfaut" is a helicopter version for escort and close support for the French army. Deliveries are scheduled for 1997. The helicopter is armed with a GIAT AM-30781 automatic cannon of 30 mm caliber with 150-450 rounds, located on a turret under the bow part. On the pylons under the wing there are four Mistral air-to-air missiles with IR guidance and two containers with 22 SNEB 68 mm NARs. Instead of each pair of Mistral missiles, a container with 12 NARs can be installed. On top The cockpit is equipped with a television camera, an on-board IR system "Flir" for detecting targets in the forward hemisphere, a laser range finder and directional optical systems.

Under the program, five experimental helicopters were built, including three without weapons, to test the basic airframe and systems common to the two countries. The first flight of the first experimental helicopter RT1 took place on April 27, 1991 at the flight test center in France, and the first flight of the second helicopter RT2 in April 1992 and the third experimental helicopter in November 1993. Electronic equipment will be tested on the RT2 and RTZ helicopters ; the RT4 helicopter will be built in the NAR version, and the RT5 helicopter will be built in the RAN-2/NAR version. After completion of initial flight tests, the RT2 and RTZ helicopters will be converted to the NAR and RAN-2/NAR variants, respectively, for the weapons testing program.

According to preliminary estimates, 212 RAN-2 helicopters will be required for Germany, 75 NAR-2 helicopters and 140 NAS helicopters for France; the cost of the helicopter development program is about 1.4 billion dollars, the price of the RAN-2 helicopter is 11.7 million dollars, NAS is 11.1 million dollars, NAR is 9.35 million dollars.

DESIGN. A single-rotor helicopter with a tail rotor, two gas turbine engines, and a tricycle landing gear.

The fuselage, wings and tail are made of CM, taking into account the requirements for safe damageability of structures and systems (MIL STD -1290 standards) and are able to withstand damage when hit by 23 mm caliber projectiles. The fuselage and wings are made primarily of carbon fiber, while the fairings are made of fiberglass or Kevlar. The wing has a span of 4.5 m, straight, of low aspect ratio, with downward end parts and pylons for placing weapons. The vertical tail is swept-back and consists of a large fin, two washers at the ends of the stabilizer and a ventral fin. The fin has an asymmetrical profile, and the washers are set at an angle to create a lateral force that relieves the tail rotor in flight. The stabilizer is straight, with a span of 3.6 m.

The crew cabin is two-seater, with shock-absorbing armored seats located in tandem at different levels: the pilot is in front, and the operator (gunner) is behind.

The landing gear is fixed, tricycle, with a tail wheel. Designed to allow landing at a vertical speed of 6 m/s.

The main rotor is four-bladed with hingeless fastening of the blades, made of CM. The hub consists of a titanium hub and two cross-shaped plates made of KM, bolted together. The bushing design does not have horizontal and vertical hinges and there are only two tapered radial elasgomer bearings in the axial hinges. This bushing design allows for quick installation of the over-bushing sight and is characterized by compactness, strength, low aerodynamic drag, very few parts and ease of maintenance. The blades are rectangular in plan, with the end parts tapering and bent downwards. Improved aerodynamic profiles have been developed for the blades, providing a 10% improvement in flight performance compared to conventional profiles. The design of the main rotor, which has an equivalent propeller radius of about 10%, provides increased maneuverability when performing anti-tank operations in low-level flight mode in extreme conditions.

The tail rotor with a diameter of 2.7 m, three-bladed, “spheriflex” type, made of CM, is installed on the right side of the keel. The blades are rectangular in plan, with an asymmetrical airfoil and swept tip. A nickel anti-erosion lining is installed along the toe of the blade. The bushing is made of titanium and has spherical elastomeric bearings and elastomeric dampers.

The power plant consists of two MTR 390 turboshaft gas engines, specially developed for this helicopter by MTU Turbomeca; the engines are installed side by side, have side air intakes, nozzles are deflected upward and are equipped with devices to reduce IR radiation. Gas turbine engines have a modular design, a two-stage central compressor, an annular combustion chamber with reverse flow, a single-stage gas generator turbine and a two-stage free turbine. Takeoff power 958 kW/1285 hp. s., maximum continuous power 873 kW/1170 l. With. Engine length 1.08 m, width 0.44 m, height 0.68 m, dry weight 169 kg.

Transmission. The main gearbox is two-stage, the first stage has gears with spiral teeth, the second - with cylindrical, helical gearing. Provides the ability to operate without lubrication for 30 minutes, is compatible with an over-bore sight, and is able to withstand 12.7 mm bullets. The main gearbox is mounted on supports equipped with devices to reduce vibrations.

The fuel system is redundant and consists of protected fuel tanks of a securely damaged design with a total volume of 1360 liters.

The control system is duplicated, and the mechanical elements of the control system are also duplicated. There is an automatic duplicate control and auto-stabilization system CSAS (Control and Stability Augmentation System) via pitch, roll and yaw control channels, as well as collective pitch, combined with the autopilot.

The electrical system includes two 20 kVA AC generators and two DC transformer-rectifier units (300 A/29 V), as well as rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries with a capacity of 23 Ah, located on a buffer device in each closed DC circuit. If necessary, duplication of power supply to devices is provided.

The avionics are common to all helicopter variants, using a dual digital data bus.

Using two central digital computers, information for the pilot and gunner is displayed on displays in the cockpit. The issuance of flight information for the pilot is also duplicated by conventional instruments. The navigation subsystem includes speed and azimuth indicators, Doppler radar, radar altimeter and magnetometer. The subsystem performs autonomous navigation functions, as well as flight path calculations, and provides the necessary data for CSAS and equipment to perform combat missions. There is a combined radar/laser threat warning system that allows you to determine, identify and classify the type of threat, and the possibility of using electronic warfare equipment is provided.

A set of equipment for anti-tank operations, based on the MIL-STD-1553B backup data bus, includes an IR night vision system for the pilot and a combined system of a helmet-mounted sight and indicator. The shooter's over-the-gun sight has optical and IR channels with different viewing areas. The surveillance stabilized system provides tracking of one or more targets and includes a laser rangefinder and an indicator located in the cockpit.

The equipment for performing helicopter combat missions in the escort and combat support version is also based on the MIL-STD-1553B backup data bus, which connects fire control with the control computer backup data bus, gunner's sight, windshield indicator, gun turret, NAR, missile launcher air-to-air class, helmet-mounted sights for the pilot and gunner, as well as their fire control units. Depending on the purpose of the helicopter, some of its equipment may change.

Armament. The Tiger and Gerfo helicopters differ in the composition of their weapons. The main armament options for the Tiger helicopter are: 8 Hot anti-tank guided missiles and 4 Mistral or Stinger missiles; 8 ATGMs "Trigat" and 4 missiles "Mistral" or "Stinger"; 4 ATGMs "Trigat", 4 ATGMs "Hot" and 4 missiles "Mistral" or "Stinger"; 2 PTB for ferry flights. The main armament options for the Gerfo helicopter are: 30 mm cannon with 450 rounds of ammunition; cannon and 4 Mistral missiles; cannon and 44 NAR and 4 Mistral missiles; cannon and 68 NAR; gun and 2 PTB.

Dimensions, m:

length with rotating screws 15.82

fuselage length 14

fuselage width 1

wingspan 4.5

helicopter height to main rotor hub 3.81 main rotor diameter 13

swept area, m? 132.7

Engines: 2 MTU Rolls-Royce gas turbine engines

Turbomeka MTR 390 takeoff power, kW/l. With. 2 x 958/2 x 1285

Weights and loads, kg:

maximum takeoff 6000

when performing combat missions 5300-5600

empty helicopter 3300

Flight data:

cruising speed, km/h 250-280

maximum rate of climb, m/s 10

static ceiling, m 2000

maximum duration

The helipad would be used against a Soviet ground invasion of Western Europe. During its long development period the country's Soviet Union collapsed, but France and Germany decided to continue with the Tiger, developing it instead as multi-role attack helicopters. It reached operational readiness in 2008.

Tiger has the honor of being the first all-composite helicopter developed in Europe; even the most early models also include other additional features such as cockpit glass, stealth technology and high maneuverability to enhance its survivability. Improved variants have since entered service, equipped with more powerful engines and compatible with a wider range of weapons. With the introduction of this type by service, tigers have been used in combat in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali.

development

Origin and early development

In 1984, French and West German authorities issued a requirement for advanced multi-role battlefield helicopter capability. Joint venture, consisting of Aerospatiale and MOV, was subsequently selected as the preferred supplier. In 1986, the development program was effectively canceled due to increasing costs; She had officially calculated that supplying German forces with an equivalent number of US-made McDonnell Douglas AH-64 Apache helicopters would be a significantly cheaper alternative to proceeding with Tiger development. According to statements by French Defense Minister André Giraud in April 1986, the joint effort has become more expensive than a separate national program and is also predicted to take longer to complete. In July 1986, a government report into the project argued that development had become distanced from the requirements and preferences of its military customers.

France and Germany reorganized the program, including steps such as accepting fixed-term contracts, placing greater financial risk on the private firms involved. Thomson CSF also took on much of the work on developing the Tiger's electronics, such as visual systems and sensors. Despite early development problems and political uncertainty between 1984 and 1986, the program was officially relaunched in November 1987; It was at this point that greater emphasis on attack helicopter anti-tank capabilities occurred. Most of organizational structure the project was quickly rebuilt between 1987 and 1989; such as the installation of the Franco-German Helicopter Directorate to act as the program's implementing agency in May 1989.

In November 1989, Eurocopter signed an agreement to financially secure the majority of the helicopter's development through to series production, including arrangements for two assembly lines to be built at the Marignana plane Aerospatiale and MBB at the Donauwörth facility. The same mechanism also included the production of five Tiger prototypes. Three of them were operated as unarmed test sites, the other two as armed combat prototypes with one for the French escort helicopter variant and the other for the German anti-tank variant. The first prototype took the Tiger's maiden flight on April 27, 1991, which lasted for 30 minutes.

design

review

The Tiger is capable of conducting a wide range of combat missions, including armed reconnaissance and surveillance, anti-tank and close air support, escort and protection of friendly assets; and can operate during the day and night in all weather conditions, and was designed to include nuclear, biological or chemical weapons response operations. Tiger can also be used in marine environment, capable of operating from the decks of ships, including frigates, and in extreme weather conditions. Among the notable qualities of the Tiger, it has a very high level of maneuverability, much of which is attributed to the design of its 13-meter four-bladed hingeless main rotor; Tiger can perform full cycles and negative ones G maneuvers. Power is provided by a pair of FADEC controlled MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshaft engines.

Tiger in flight, 2012

The Tiger has a tandem seat "glass cockpit" and is operated by a two-person crew; the pilot is in a forward position, with the gunner sitting behind. Any of the crew members can control weapons systems or primary flight control, switching roles if necessary; In addition to flying the aircraft, the Tiger pilot will typically be under control of self-defense and communications systems, as well as some secondary weapon functions. While some of the weapons use special control interfaces, such as the anti-tank Trigat air-to-air missile, the weapon can be controlled using controls on both sets of collective and cyclic sticks.

The crew new to the Tiger must undergo significant retraining due to differences from older platforms, in particular in the area of ​​higher management of workloads and additional capabilities provided by the type; One of the main changes from previous attack helicopters is a much higher degree of autonomy. According to Andrew Warner, the chief test pilot during the development of the Tiger, it is "the easiest handling aircraft I have ever flown."

System costs (helicopter, weapons, support) and unit costs vary between options; Australia Tiger ARH has a unit price of US$68 million, the latest Tiger HAD variant is priced at US$44-48 million.

survival

Tiger is the first all-composite helicopter developed in Europe. The Tiger's fuselage is made of 80% carbon fiber reinforced plastic and Kevlar, 11% aluminum and 6% titanium. All tail parts are made of composite materials, including one section of the tail boom. The rotors are made of a fiber plastic composite material capable of withstanding combat damage and bird strikes. Tiger's structure also includes protection against lightning strikes and electromagnetic pulses using embedded copper/bronze and copper foil bonding mesh.

Tiger's design includes high-crash advantages; many of the onboard systems are redundant and separated to minimize the effect of damage. Propulsion system components such as the rotors and drive shaft were deliberately designed for greater ballistic tolerance than traditional designs; The box is designed to allow 60 minutes of dry running if lubrication is lost. Fuel is contained in two main internal fuel tanks, and two more small reservoirs are located inside the wing plugs. Fuel tanks have a self-sealing capability to reduce vulnerability. IN harsh conditions theater in Afghanistan, the Tiger was reported to have 90% operational readiness.

Avionics and weapons

Tiger cabin forward GAP

Among the aircraft's key avionics features are EUROGRID control of battlefield and mapping systems, integrated communications (HF/VHM/FM radio and satellite) and data links, digital automatic flight control system high power, and redundant data MIL 1553 Buses. Two backup mission computers for weapon control, sensors and targeting functions. The Tiger's navigation suite includes GPS, Duplicate Inertial Reference, Doppler Radar, Separated Air Data Units, Radio Altimeter and Distributed Air Speed ​​Sensors. The dedicated nose mounted forward-looking infrared sensor (FLIR) is used by the pilot for night flights.

Each crew member has a pair of multi-function liquid crystal data displays on their control station, typically used to display internal systems information and sensor data, as well as interact with higher systems airplane. An additional display system is available to both crew in the form of a helmet-mounted display (HMD). The GMD uses the flying pilot's signal to display essential flight data with digitally processed optics, such as night vision or infrared images from sensors superimposed against each other; the gunner can use the HMD to interact with and control on-board weapon systems and attitude representation data.

The mast is higher than the rotor head with the Osiris system.

Perhaps the most important single avionics system installed on the Tiger is the MTP Osiris sight/sensor; this includes optical TV and thermal cameras, a laser rangefinder/tracker/target designator, and multiple gyroscopes for stabilization. Osiris acts as the main sensor for surveillance and target acquisition, providing firing and orientation data via the weapon's computer; Osiris also allows completely passive acquisition of targets to be carried out and was designed to maximize the capabilities of the Trigat anti-tank missile developed in parallel with the Tiger itself. An alternative to the Osiris optical system is installed on the roof of the aircraft in some variants.

The Tiger can be equipped with a variety of weapons, including missiles, cannons, and a range of air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, controlled through a dedicated computer weapon control. Ammunition for anti-ground warfare includes a nose-mounted 30mm NEXTER turret; an assortment of external gun pods, anti-tank missiles, and up to four launchers for 70mm and 68mm missiles can be fitted to the Tiger's wing stubs. When deploying missiles such as the Mistral, the Tiger is capable of taking advantage of off-axis capabilities of the ammunition's projection. A 70mm guided missile will be developed for the Tiger based on the Roketsan Cirit.

Operational history

In December 2008, final qualification of the HAP and UHT variants of the Tiger was completed, marking the platform's readiness for operational duties overseas. In May 2009, the Tiger participated in coast readiness trials at Toulon to clear the type for active ship deployment. In November 2009, approximately 50 Tigers were delivered to customers and the fleet worldwide had accumulated more than 13,000 flight hours.

In July 2009, three French Tiger HAP helicopters from the 5th Helicopter Regiment arrived at Kabul International Airport in Afghanistan, marking the Tiger's first active deployment to an active combat zone. The helicopters conducted armed reconnaissance and fire support missions supporting coalition ground forces fighting Taliban insurgents. The Tigers had their operational certification in Afghanistan in early August 2009; one French officer described the tiger's role in the theater as "find, attack, suppress, capture, raid, and support". In July 2010, it was reported that Tiger Force had logged a total of 1,000 operational hours in Afghanistan. On 4 February 2011, a French Tiger crashed while operating at night about 30 miles east of Kabul, and both crew members suffered minor injuries.

In August 2009, a German magazine Der Spiegel reported that ten operational Tigers in the German Army were only suitable for pilot training, while others were not accepted due to defects. In May 2010, Germany suspended deliveries for more "serious defects, especially with wiring"; in response, Eurocopter stated that "Corrective measures related to the wiring problems have been developed, agreed upon by the customer and are being implemented", and that the two corrected helicopters would soon be handed over to the German army.

During the 2011 military intervention in Libya, France deployed a French vessel Tonner An amphibious helicopter carrier carrying a number of Tiger helicopters on board to the coast of Libya to conduct military operations on military targets in Libya. On 4 June 2011, French Tigers, along with British Army Apache helicopters, began fighting in Libya.

In December 2012, a total of four German Tiger UHTs were deployed to Afghanistan. The UHTs operated out of Mazar-i-Sharif Air Base in Afghanistan, providing reconnaissance, ground support, and convoy protection duties. All tigers deployed to the zone had previously undergone modernization as part of the Asgard program; Modifications include the addition of new safety systems, sand filters for the MTR390 engines, and improvements to the communications package. The German Army received the last of the ASGARD-upgraded Tigers in March 2014. In March 2013, Spain also deployed three HADS Tigers to the region to operate in support of Spanish ground forces. From January 30, 2013 to June 30, 2014, German Tigers flew 1,860 hours in Afghanistan on more than 260 missions supporting NATO ground forces, Afghan security forces, and post-flood humanitarian relief operations. None of Germany's four deployed Tigers fired in the battle, which the Bundeswehr attributed psychological impact helicopter through displays of force sufficient to counter threats.

In January 2013, as part of France's intervention in the northern Mali conflict, a small number of Tigers were deployed for combat operations in the theater. As reported early in production, the Tiger HADS, known as Unit 1, was deployed to theater in November 2014 after being deemed operational. In March 2017, two German Tigers were deployed to Mali in support of the multidimensional United Nations Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, releasing AH-64 Apaches of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, with two more Tigers due to join them. On July 26, 2017, one of two German Tigers en route to supporting a UN mission crashed in the desert 70 km north of Gao for unknown reasons. Both pilots died as a result of the accident.

Options

UH Tiger

UVT (from Unterstützungshubschrauber Tiger German for "Tiger support helicopter") is a medium weight multi-role fire support helicopter built for Bundeswehr(German armed forces). According to an agreement between the German government and Eurocopter made in March 2013, a total of 57 Tiger UHSs are to be purchased.

The UVT can carry PARS 3 LR "fire and forget" and/or HOT3 anti-tank missiles, as well as 70 mm (2.8 in) Hydra 70 air-to-ground fire support missiles from the Belgian manufacturer Forges de Zeebrugge. Four AIM-92 Stinger missiles (two on each side) are mounted for air-to-air combat. Unlike the GAP/HCP version it does not have an integrated gun turret, but a 12.7 mm (0.50 in) gunpod can be fitted if required. The weapon configuration was designed to be multi-role and easily convertible to cover the full range of possible mission scenarios and be effective against a wide range of targets. Another difference is the use of MTP vision, which has a second generation of infrared and CCD cameras (range 18 km).

Tiger HAP

Tiger HAP/HCP ( Helicopter d'Appui Protection, French for "support and Escort Helicopter" / Helicoptère de Combat Polyvalent French for "multi-role combat helicopter") is a medium-weight combat and fire support air-to-air helicopter built for the French Army. It is equipped with a chin-mounted GIAT 30 mm gun turret and can carry 68 mm SNEB unguided missiles or 20 mm mounted guns in a fire support role, as well as Mistral air-to-air missiles. France 40 NARs were delivered in 2012 at €27m/unit (~US$36m) in 2012 prices. In December 2015, France decided to upgrade its entire existing Tiger fleet to the HAD standard by 2025.

Tiger HAD

Tiger HAD ( Hélicoptère d'Appui Destruction, in French or Helicoptero de Apoyo y Destrucción in Spanish for "helicopter support and destruction") version is essentially identical to the GAP version, but is best suited for operation in hot environments, with 14% more engine power available thanks to the upgraded Enhanced MTR390 engines (+1092 kW / 1464 hp). in normal operation; 1322 kW / 1774 hp in emergency power mode), maximum take-off weight increased to 6,600 kg, communications suite expanded with Up Link and Down Link satellite dish and better ballistic protection, as a result of specific requests made by the Spanish army. It is equipped with Hellfire II and Spike ER armor-piercing missiles. It is suitable for attack, escort, ground fire support, armed reconnaissance, air-to-air combat roles.

It was selected by the Spanish Army and the French Army of Light Aviation (ALAT) decided to upgrade most of its NAR helicopters to the HAD variant. In December 2004, Spain ordered 24 HAD variants and France ordered 40 HADS. France 40 HAD would cost €35.6m/block (~US$48m) at 2012 prices. The French Army refers to those Tigers modernized in HAD variants as Tiger Mk2 .

In January 2016, it was announced that France was working with Australia, Germany, Spain and to determine the proposed further increase in Tiger HAD, referred to as Tiger Mk3. A key aspect of this modernization, which is planned to take place around 2023, should be the adoption of a common anti-tank missile, as well as other improvements in areas such as communications systems.

Tiger ARH

The Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) is a version commissioned by the Australian Army to replace its OH-58 Kiowa and UH-1 Iroquois-based "bushranger" attack helicopters. The Tiger ARH is a modified and updated version of the Tiger HAP with improved MTR390 engines, and a laser designator included as a Strix for firing Hell II air-to-surface missiles. Instead of SNEB unguided rockets, the ARH will use 70 mm (2.75 in) rockets from the Belgian developer, Forgies de Zeebrugge (FZ). Twenty-two variants were ordered in December 2001. The majority of the helicopters will be carried by the 1st Aviation Regiment, based at Robertson Barracks in Darwin. The helicopter was shipped to Australia to be molded and locally assembled at Brisbane Airport by Australia Aerospace.

The first two ARH helicopters were delivered to Australia on 15 December 2004, with deliveries of the Adolescent Reproductive Health Unit expected to be completed by June 2010, with full operation scheduled for December 2011.

In 2012, after three incidents involving cockpit fumes that endangered pilots, pilots voted not to fly until all safety concerns were resolved.

In August 2014, the Australian Defense Force and BAE Systems Australia successfully trialled the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Laser Guiding System kit for use with the Arch's 70mm FZ unguided missiles.

The 2016 Australian Defense White Paper stated that Tiger helicopters will be replaced by other armed surveillance aircraft in the mid-2020s. Problems cited include lack of commonality with other Tiger variants, the high cost of engine maintenance and the shipping time of sending parts to Europe for repair and overhaul.

The Australian Army Tiger ARHS reached its final operating capacity on 18 April 2016.

operators

• Australian Army

• French army

• german army

• spanish army

Specifications (Tiger GAP)

The tiger flew right overhead

Data Wilson, McGowen

The PAH-2 Tiger helicopter was developed by the Eurocopter consortium, which includes the German company MBB and the French Aerospatiale. According to the agreement adopted in 1987 by representatives of Germany and France, the development of two versions of a combat helicopter was carried out - an anti-tank helicopter, common for both countries and called PAH-2 in Germany, and HAC in France, and an escort and fire support helicopter only for France, called HAP. First flight prototype helicopter PAH-2 took place on April 27, 1991.

A feature of the PAH-2 combat helicopter is: the ability to perform combat missions around the clock and in difficult weather conditions, high maneuverability, combat survivability and operational manufacturability, high quality new level automation of control of on-board systems and weapons, as well as the widespread use of composite materials.

All variants of the PAH-2 helicopter are based on a single basic design (fuselage, engines, hydraulics, fuel and electrical systems etc.), as well as on the modular design of special equipment. The basic design is based on a single-rotor helicopter with a tail rotor, two gas turbine engines and a three-post landing gear with a tail wheel.

The PAH-2 helicopter has an aircraft-type fuselage made of approximately 80% composite materials, which not only reduces the weight of the helicopter structure, but also helps reduce cost life cycle and labor intensity of operation. In the front part of the fuselage there are cockpits for the pilot and pilot-operator arranged in a tandem configuration. The pilot's cabin is located in front, and the pilot-operator's cabin is behind and slightly higher. The main controls are duplicated and located in both cockpits, so that, if necessary, the pilot operator can take control of the helicopter. The design of the fuselage as a whole and the landing gear are made taking into account the requirements for safe damage to structures and systems. To ensure the safety of the crew in the event of an emergency landing, the lower part of the fuselage has panels with a honeycomb filling that have the ability to absorb kinetic energy. This design ensures a safe landing for the crew with a vertical speed of up to 10.5 m/s. A significant portion of the energy in the event of an emergency landing is also absorbed by the pilot's seats and landing gear.

The PAH-2 helicopter has a wing with a span of 4.5 m, the end parts of which are lowered down. The wing has four hardpoints for weapons or additional fuel tanks. The power plant consists of two MTR 390 turboshaft gas turbine engines with a maximum takeoff power of 958 kW. each. The power plant is controlled by an electronic digital system that ensures optimal engine operation in all modes. To reduce the helicopter's visibility in the infrared range, the engine nozzles are equipped with devices for mixing exhaust gases with air. In the event of failure of one of the engines, continuation of the flight is possible by putting the other engine into emergency mode. The total capacity of the fuel tanks is 1360 liters. The fuel tanks are equipped with a system to prevent the explosion of the gas-air mixture in the space above the fuel.

The PAH-2 helicopter is equipped with a four-bladed main rotor and a three-bladed tail rotor. The propeller blades are made of composite materials. All helicopter variants are equipped with reconnaissance and sighting equipment, navigation equipment and control systems that support them combat use day and night, in simple and difficult weather conditions. The sighting system includes: a television camera, an infrared night vision system, a laser rangefinder-target designator and helmet-mounted sights. Targeting and navigation information can be displayed on helmet-mounted indicators, on the windshield and color multi-function liquid crystal displays in the cockpits of crew members.

The armament of anti-tank helicopters should consist of 8 Hot-2 ATGMs or 8 new Trigat ATGMs and 4 Mistral or Stinger air-to-air missiles. Escort and fire support helicopters are armed with a built-in 30mm air cannon on a turret, 68mm unguided rocket launchers and 4 Mistral missiles.

Eurocopter Tiger/Tiger (eng. Eurocopter “Tiger”) - reconnaissance and attack helicopter. Developed by the Franco-German consortium Eurocopter. I tried to get closer to it, but it was always surrounded by a huge number of people!!!

As always, I use information from sites
http://www.airwar.ru
http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki
and other sources I found on the Internet and literature.

Based on the results of computer modeling of the combat operation of helicopters and analysis of their use in local military conflicts, by the mid-1980s, the idea had spread among US and NATO aviation specialists that the survivability of a helicopter in the future would be determined to a greater extent not by the survivability of the design, but by the level of visibility helicopter in the main physical fields, the complex of electronic warfare equipment used, and the perfection of the used tactics.
cabin

Here, the survivability of a vehicle refers to the level of losses - the ratio of the number of downed helicopters to the total number of sorties made. At the same time, consideration of the design principles used, design and layout solutions and features of the RAH-66, Eurocopter Tiger, etc. helicopters does not give grounds to talk about the abolition of the requirements for ensuring combat survivability; rather, we are talking about a change in the ranking of priorities and requirements.
nose gun

The Tiger helicopter was designed based on the following basic principles.

Reduced visibility (“Do not be seen by the enemy”). The thin fuselage (cabin width 1 m) is made of polymer composite materials (PCM), transparent to high-frequency radar radiation.
The ability to use tactical evasion techniques when detected by radar, infrared and acoustic means of the enemy (“If seen, do not be hit”). For this purpose, the helicopter is equipped with various sensors and devices for detecting radiation from enemy air defense systems. The high maneuverability characteristics necessary to provide an energetic evasive maneuver must be realized, the ability of the structure to withstand overloads from +3.5 to -0.5.
The ability to continue flight when facing enemy fire (“If hit, survive and stay in the air”). Continuation of flight when a structure is hit by a single 23-mm OFZ projectile. A set of measures to ensure combat survivability, including the presence of an armored partition between the engines, a tubular tail rotor drive shaft with a diameter of 130 mm made of PCM. Side sliding armored shields for the operator and pilot, protected explosion-proof and fireproof fuel tanks.
a gun

The straight wing of low aspect ratio with lowered tips has four pylons for placing weapons, fuel tanks and containers for various purposes.
suspended weapons

sidewall

The location of the crew members is standard for attack helicopters- tandem, a feature of the Tiger helicopter is that the pilot’s seat is located in the front, and the operator’s workplace is in the rear. In this case, the seats of the pilot and operator are shifted in opposite sides relative to the longitudinal axis of the machine to provide better forward visibility for the operator from the rear seat.
Crew cabin with shock-absorbing armored seats.
left view

The vehicle has a hydraulic automatic control and auto-stabilization system CSAS (Control and Stability Augmentation System) through pitch, roll and yaw channels, combined with an autopilot. The electrical system includes two 20 kVA alternating current generators and a pair of transformer-rectifier units (300A/29V), as well as batteries. The radio-electronic equipment, common to all helicopter variants, includes two on-board computers.

The fuselage structure consists of 80% polymer composite materials (PCM) based on carbon fiber and Kevlar, 11% aluminum, and 6% titanium alloys. The main and tail rotor blades are made of PCM and remain operational in the event of combat damage and collisions with birds. Lightning protection and resistance to electromagnetic pulse (EMP) are provided by a thin bronze mesh and copper connecting foil applied to the fuselage surfaces.
The fuselage and wing are made of carbon fiber, and the fairings are made of fiberglass and Kevlar. The developers paid a lot of attention to the survivability of the vehicle in accordance with MIL STD-1290 standards. This made the helicopter design quite resistant to hits from 23-mm shells from the Soviet ZSU 23-4 "Shilka" and ZU 23-2.
front view

Flight information for the pilot is also duplicated by conventional instruments. The navigation subsystem includes a Doppler radar, radar altimeter, magnetometer, speed, azimuth and drift indicators. It provides autonomous determination of flight parameters and provides the necessary data for the CSAS and weapon control system. The helicopter is equipped with a combined threat warning system operating in both laser and radar ranges.
cabin

The landing gear is non-retractable, tricycle with a tail wheel. Its design ensures landing with a vertical speed of 6 m/s.
main post

The equipment includes the AN/AAR-60 MILDS airborne detection system, which warns the crew about the irradiation of the helicopter by enemy radar, laser guidance and targeting systems, and about the launch/attack of missiles. The complex was developed by the German branch of the EADS consortium. All systems are connected to the on-board computer, the commands of which are sent to the automatic reset machine for anti-radar reflectors and IR jamming devices from MBDA. Installed on the helicopter electronic warfare equipment EloKa. The helicopter's visibility characteristics in the optical, radar, IR and acoustic ranges have been minimized.

The survivability of the helicopter's structure and on-board systems ensures the ability to continue flight if hit by a single 23-mm OFZ projectile.
general view on the left

The power plant consists of two MTR 390 turboshaft gas engines, specially developed for this helicopter by MTU Turbomeca; the engines are installed side by side, have side air intakes, nozzles are deflected upward and are equipped with devices to reduce IR radiation. Gas turbine engines have a modular design, a two-stage central compressor, an annular combustion chamber with reverse flow, a single-stage gas generator turbine and a two-stage free turbine. Takeoff power 958 kW, maximum continuous power 873 kW. Engine length 1.08m, width 0.44m, height 0.68m, dry weight 169kg.
engine

cabin and window

cabin

The main rotor is four-bladed with hingeless fastening of the blades, made of CM. The hub consists of a titanium hub and two cross-shaped plates made of KM, bolted together. The bushing design does not have horizontal and vertical hinges and there are only two tapered radial elastomeric bearings in the axial hinges. This bushing design allows for quick installation of the over-bushing sight and is characterized by compactness, strength, low aerodynamic drag, very few parts and ease of maintenance. The blades are rectangular in plan, with the end parts tapering and bent downwards. Improved aerodynamic profiles have been developed for the blades, providing a 10% improvement in flight performance compared to conventional profiles. The design of the main rotor, which has an equivalent propeller radius of about 10%, provides increased maneuverability when performing anti-tank operations in low-level flight mode in extreme conditions.
main screw

For strikes against armored targets, the crew has an IR night vision system for the pilot, helmet-mounted sights and situation indicators that display information on the windshield. The over-the-sleeve sight for the operator has optical and IR channels with different viewing areas. The REO also includes a laser rangefinder-target designator.
slung weapon

Guided missiles:


Transmission. The main gearbox is two-stage, the first stage has gears with spiral teeth, the second - with cylindrical, helical gearing. Provides the ability to operate without lubrication for 30 minutes, is compatible with an over-bore sight, and is able to withstand 12.7mm bullets. The main gearbox is mounted on supports equipped with devices to reduce vibrations.
engine

To reduce the helicopter's visibility in the infrared range, the engine nozzles are equipped with devices for mixing exhaust gases with air. In the event of failure of one of the engines, continuation of the flight is possible by putting the other engine into emergency mode.

What is this?

The swept-back vertical tail is unusually developed: it consists of a pair of fins, one of which is located under the tail boom, and two vertical surfaces at the ends of the straight stabilizer. The keel is given an asymmetrical profile, and the surfaces are set at an angle, which allows the tail rotor to be unloaded in flight.
tail rotor

The tail rotor with a diameter of 2.7 m, three-blade, "spheriflex" type, made of CM, is installed on the right side of the keel. The blades are rectangular in plan, with an asymmetrical airfoil and swept tip. A nickel anti-erosion lining is installed along the toe of the blade. The bushing is made of titanium and has spherical elastomeric bearings and elastomeric dampers.

back view

The fuel system is duplicated, equipped with protected tanks with a volume of 1360 liters. The fuel tanks are equipped with a system to prevent the explosion of the gas-air mixture in the space above the fuel.

right view

front

a gun

Windshield

general view, always a lot of people

And now in more detail the history of the creation of this helicopter:
In 1973, the Italian company Augusta and the German concern Messerschmitt-Belkov-Blom (hereinafter referred to as MBB) began jointly designing a light anti-tank helicopter. At the same time, the French company Aerospatial was developing a new multi-role helicopter for the army.
for preliminary

However, by 1975, the Italian-German project encountered difficulties of both a technical and financial nature. Three years later, the Italian side terminated the agreement, starting to independently design the A-129 "Mongoose" machine, and 70% of the German share of the costs was compensated ground troops Italy. During the period of friction between Augusta and MBB, the German government invited France to begin joint production of an anti-tank helicopter. The French side gave the go-ahead and in 1977, specialists from Aerospatiale and MBB began joint research.
crew, they also took pictures of us

During the meeting, differences in solving technical problems emerged. Since France has a mild climate with plenty of... sunny days, then the Armee de l'Air command would like to get a relatively light and simple-in-design machine with a single engine, fairly cheap to produce, since the French intended to export it to third world countries. Colder and wetter conditions prevail on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany weather with a lot of fog and precipitation. Therefore, the German Bundesluftwaffe relied on an all-weather helicopter capable of operating in difficult weather conditions. In addition, the French side was not averse to saving money and therefore at the same time considered options for multi-purpose helicopters, while the German focused on a purely single-purpose one - intended for destruction tanks. And this is understandable: a powerful Soviet armored group was concentrated “under the nose" of Germany. To implement the program, the Eurocopter consortium was formed with a branch in Paris. On the German side, responsibility for the development was assigned to the Federal Directorate for Defense Equipment and Procurement of Weapon Systems.

To bring the work into a single direction and reduce financial expenses in 1984, a decision was made to create three different helicopters based on one design. The multi-purpose version of the NAR (Helicoptere d'Appui Protection) as well as the anti-tank HAC-3G (Helicoptere Anti-Char) were intended for the French army, and the all-weather anti-tank PAH-2 (Panzerpabwehr-Hubschrauder) for the German army. The cost of the project was estimated at 2.36 billion The costs of both sides were determined in equal shares.During the implementation of this program, the French intended to receive 75 NAR helicopters and 140 HAC-3G, and the Germans - 212 all-weather anti-tank RAN-2.

The helicopters' armament was suitable for its intended purpose. Both French vehicles carried four air-to-air missiles with a Mistral infrared seeker and a promising 30-mm GIAT FV-30781 cannon with ammunition of 450 (on the NAR version) and 150 rounds (on the NAS model). In addition, the first one provided for the installation of a pair of blocks with a 60-mm SNEB NUR (12 shells each), and the second one would have eight Hot-2 ATGMs, and in the future, third-generation Trigat homing ATGMs. The German model had the same main armament as the French anti-tank one, but for self-defense it was supposed to use four American missiles with a Stinger infrared seeker. It was planned to include the Flir surveillance system, operating in the infrared range, and a laser rangefinder-target designator combined with an aiming system, and a TV camera as part of the on-board REO of all three options.
one lands, the other takes off

The delivery of helicopters in the NAR version to the French was planned to begin in 1997. Anti-tank helicopters with Toy ATGMs were supposed to enter service in 1998, and the first eight combat vehicles with Trigat ATGMs - at the end of 1999. However, the high cost of the program ( three options) in mid-1986 forced specialists to reassess the requirements for combat vehicles and their characteristics. For about a year, the implementation of the project was under threat and the West was very skeptical about the prospects of Eurocopter. But after the approval of the new proposed projects, “the ice broke” and on November 13, 1987, the parties decided to develop it in the 90s. helicopter under the designation "Tiger".
away we go

In March 1988, in order to reduce design costs, both sides combined the French and German anti-tank models into one project SATN (Comman Anti-Tank Helicopter - a single anti-tank helicopter). The SATN program was estimated at $1.1 billion. At the same time, the airframe and power plant corresponded to the PAH-2 variant. However, instead of the American TADS/PNVS detection and target designation system from Martin-Marietta, they decided to install a European set of MEP equipment on the helicopter, which included a sleeve sight, a surveillance system and a fire control system. At the same time, the French army confirmed its interest in receiving a close fire support helicopter.

On April 27, 1991, the RT-1 Tiger took off for the first time. During the tests, a comprehensive assessment of flight characteristics, airframe subsystems, main and tail rotor hubs, engines, fuel and hydraulic systems, as well as on-board electronic equipment was carried out. The helicopter demonstrated good stability, which made it possible to abandon the planned installation of a stabilization system (SAS) - vertical surfaces at the ends of the stabilizer, which were intended to increase lateral stability and dampen vibrations in the yaw channel.

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Germany had a negative impact on the fate of the project. The “Russian Bear” was no longer at the “borders of the Fatherland” and German Defense Minister D. Stoltenberg “with a light heart” reduced the number of PAH-2 anti-tank helicopters expected to be purchased from 212 to 138 vehicles. The unification of the two Germanys required considerable expenses and some of the funds were withdrawn by the government from the military budget. This, on the one hand, reduced allocations for the needs of “copper helmets” by $1.26 billion, and on the other, forced the consortium management to begin searching for potential buyers. In addition, Germany's reduction in the number of helicopters purchased has slowed down the pace of development programs and preparation for mass production.

Meanwhile, in June 1992, in Ottonbruck (Germany), the assembly of the second experimental helicopter RT-2, which was intended for testing on-board electronic equipment, like the RT-3 that was under construction, was completed, and in November of the same year the first experimental fire support helicopter appeared For French army, which by this time received the name “Zherfo” (kochet). To save time and money, French specialists, simultaneously with flight tests of this machine, were testing the weapon system and part of the electronic equipment for it on Puma helicopters. Thus, one of the first to be tested was the GIAT AM-30781 30-mm automatic cannon and an aiming system operating in the optical and infrared ranges.

The successful tests of the Gerfo made a certain impression on German specialists, and on November 17, 1992, the army aviation command announced that plans for the purchase of all-weather anti-tank PAH-2 were by no means final and could well be adjusted in favor of the Gerfo option. The beginning of the new year 1993 turned out to be far from joyful for the board of the consortium, because A few weeks after the Christmas holidays, the German government cut the number of purchased PAH-2 helicopters to 78. Against this background, the conclusion of a contract for the development of the third generation ATGM "Trigat" could hardly improve the mood of the developers. The program was once again under threat.

However, on May 29, the army command of France and Germany signed an agreement in which Germany's participation in the development of the Tiger helicopter was confirmed. The fly in the ointment for Eurocopter was the deadline for the helicopters to enter service, which was pushed back to 2000. This created some commercial difficulties, since export deliveries were scheduled to begin in 1998. And the first buyer was supposed to be Great Britain. At the same time, the joint agreement set the task of developing new tactical and technical requirements for the Tiger, which was now intended to be used as a multi-purpose support helicopter under the designation UHV-2. It was planned to install the promising Trigat ATGM and a 27-mm Mauser automatic cannon, located in a ventral container. The set of sensors of the detection and surveillance system, as well as the computer of the combat information and control system, were also subject to modernization.

In 1994, the third prototype RT-3 was tested. They revealed: large bending moments of the main rotor (which was strengthened), excessive sensitivity of the duplex automatic flight control system, increased vibrations in the cockpit and tail boom. As a result, the gear ratio in the blade pitch control system was reduced, and the shape of the gearbox fairing was modified in order to stabilize the flow and reduce vibration. The “quick” launch of the MTU MTR-390 turboshaft gas engines, developed by the British Rolls-Royce and the French Turbomeca, was also worked out. In particular, the control program for injectors and the first stages of compressors was adjusted.

In the mid-90s. potential buyers have not lost interest in the Tiger. Thus, the German government confirmed its initial intention to receive 212 combat helicopters. It is planned to equip four battalions with them: one for each of the three airmobile brigades, one remains as a separate one. In 1995, the French Ministry of Defense ordered 14 Tigers for military tests and at the same time purchased basic spare parts for a total amount of $153 million. In the same year they were collected experimental machines RT-4 and RT-5 in the NAR and PAH-2/NAS variants, respectively. They were used for full-scale weapons testing. Repeated delays in the implementation of the Tiger program have led to the fact that the arrival of these helicopters to equip troops is expected no earlier than 1998-1999. The consortium board has also not yet received confirmation from Germany about the acquisition of these machines after 2005.

Prospects for the global arms market have also worsened. Initially, the UK showed interest, wishing to purchase 125 helicopters, Spain - 60 and the Netherlands - 40. However, the British and Dutch, disappointed with the test results, soon switched to the more powerful American AH-64A Apache. In third world countries, one should expect serious competition from the Russian Mi-28 and Ka-50, which have an undoubted superiority over the Franco-German development in almost the entire range of flight performance and combat characteristics. And besides, both Russian helicopter are already in mass production and, importantly, are much cheaper than the Tiger.

flight the next day

and drunkards with the eyes of rabbits, looking at us thoughtfully... and what are these holey gloves on the operator?

everyone is watching

Our helicopter belongs to the French Army, has registration number F-ZKBS (formerly BHE) serial number 2019. Correct model name: EC665 Tiger HAP-1!!!

Who is first?

let's hit the road

first hang and show yourself

The German Ministry of Defense has declared the European Tiger fire support helicopters (Eurocopter Tiger) unfit for use. The newspaper Die Welt reports this with reference to an official statement from the department.
The helicopters, produced by the European company EADS, were intended to arm the German contingent in Afghanistan. However, as stated in internal correspondence of the Ministry of Defense, their deliveries will be delayed due to numerous defects and shortcomings.

A batch of 80 Tiger helicopters manufactured by Eurocopter, a subsidiary of EADS, was ordered in 1999, AFP reported. 67 of them were to be delivered by 2009. Meanwhile, according to a representative of the Ministry of Defense, to date the department has received only 11 helicopters, and due to “serious defects” all of them were declared unusable.

Eurocopter issued a statement saying that work to fix the problem was being carried out at an accelerated pace. The first combat-ready Tiger helicopters are expected to become available to the Bundeswehr no earlier than 2012.

Unit cost US$39 million

satisfied viewers

Modifications:
US Tigre is a multi-role attack helicopter with a primary anti-tank mission for the French Army.
HAP Gerfaut is a fire support attack helicopter for the French Army.
PAH-2 Tiger (Panzerabwehrhubschrauber 2) is a second generation anti-tank helicopter for the German Army.

whoops

Crew: 2 (pilot and weapons operator)
Length: 15.8 m
Fuselage length: 15.0 m (with cannon)
Main rotor diameter: 13.0 m
Tail rotor diameter: 2.7 m
Maximum fuselage width: 4.53 m (with pylons)
Height: 4.32 m (with tail rotor)
Rotor swept area: 132.7 m²
Chassis base: 7.65 m
Chassis track: 2.38 m
Empty weight: 4200 kg
Normal take-off weight: 5300 - 6100 kg (depending on mission)
Maximum take-off weight: 6100 kg
Fuel mass in internal tanks: 1080 kg (+ 555 kg in PTB)
Fuel tank volume: 1360 l (+ 2 × 350 l PTB)
Powerplant: 2 × MTU/Turbomeca/Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshafts
Engine power: 2 × 1285 l. With. (2 × 958 kW (takeoff))

Flight characteristics

Maximum permissible speed: 322 km/h
Maximum speed: 278 km/h
Cruising speed: 230 km/h
Practical range: 800 km
Ferry range: 1280 km (with PTB)
Flight duration: 2 hours 50 minutes
with maximum fuel reserve: 3 hours 25 minutes
Static ceiling: 3500 m (out of ground influence)
Rate of climb: 11.5 m/s
Vertical rate of climb: 6.4 m/s
Disc load: 45.2 kg/m² (at maximum take-off weight)

planes are waiting for a break

Armament

Small arms and cannon: 1 × 30 mm Giat AM-30781 cannon with 450 p.
Suspension points: 4
Guided missiles:
air-to-ground missiles: 4 × HOT or Trigat or AGM-114 on internal nodes
air-to-air missiles: 2 × Mistral or Stinger on external nodes
Unguided rockets: blocks of 22 on internal and 12 rockets on external nodes
Additional weapons: 12.7 mm machine guns with 250 rounds or PTB on internal units

Combat helicopters have long become permanent participants in all more or less noticeable wars and conflicts, and their comparison is part of any decent near-military dispute. But the battles around Cold War veterans are long overdue, so today we will compare the Russian Ka-52 and the European Tiger.

...Moreover, ours are going to buy another 114 “52s”.

Who is who

The development of a new generation of Soviet combat helicopter began back in 1976, and on June 17, 1982, the first copy of the B-80, a single-seat coaxial combat helicopter, became known under the designation Ka-50 and the nickname “ Black Shark" By the second half of the 2000s, funding had improved, and the military decided that they preferred the two-seat version of the vehicle, the Ka-52. It was put into mass production. Ka-52 (photo: Anton Petrov)

The European Tiger also began with development in the 1970s, but the car took a long time to reach its first flight. The Tiger flew for the first time only in 1991, and its deliveries to customers began another 10 years later.
Eurocopter Tiger (photo: Mark Broekhans)

Let's go.

Flight qualities

The Ka-52 is faster (almost 30 kilometers per hour), noticeably more maneuverable (thanks to the coaxial design) and is in fact the most “flyable” of attack helicopters today. The range of both vehicles is approximately the same - about 400 kilometers. However, the Tiger uses less fuel for this: internal stock- 1080 kilograms versus 1487 for the Ka-52. It’s no wonder that the maximum take-off weight is also significantly different: 10,800 kilograms for Kamov versus 6,000 for the Tiger.

Ka-52 - 5
"Tiger" - 4

Vitality and security

Traditionally for domestic combat helicopters, the Ka-52 is well armored: 350 kilograms are used to protect the cabin, the engines and a number of other important components are also protected. But relying on armor alone is no longer fashionable. Helicopters receive the Vitebsk airborne defense system, capable of detecting laser radiation and missile launches. The complex includes an automatic control system, an active jamming station for radars, a protection system against missiles with thermal heads that “blinds” them with a laser spotlight, and traditional fireable “traps.”

If all else fails, both Ka-52 pilots have ejection seats, and the propeller blades are shot off first.

In the event of a fall inside the cockpit (if the accident occurred at a low altitude), passive safety equipment absorbs a significant part of the impact energy and preserves the health of the pilots.
Ka-52 (photo: Ivan Savitsky)

A European's booking is noticeably easier. The largest share is occupied by carbon fiber reinforced plastics and Kevlar. The main emphasis is on the reduced visibility of the vehicle in all ranges, as well as on the on-board defense system, which, like the Russian Vitebsk, protects the helicopter from radar, laser and infrared-guided missiles. In addition, the Tiger is additionally protected from electromagnetic pulses (the machine was developed in anticipation of a nuclear war in Europe). The Tiger does not have ejection seats, but the cabin and seats are also designed to mitigate the effect of a “hard landing.”

Ka-52 - 4.5
"Tiger" - 4

Firepower

Both helicopters carry a cannon and external weapons. Let's compare. The Ka-52 is armed with a 30-mm belt-fed 2A42 assault rifle, the rate of fire is adjustable in the range of 550-800 rounds per minute, the ammunition includes high-explosive fragmentation and armor-piercing shells. On the “Tiger” there is also a 30-mm GIAT 30M in the “helicopter” version 781 (featured by reduced muzzle energy and charge power), so that the light helicopter does not “sausage” after each short burst.

Ours didn’t bother - what’s up, 11 tons in a helicopter - and left the characteristics of the gun, originally borrowed from an infantry fighting vehicle, unchanged.

In favor of the French product is a more flexible change in the rate of fire, from 300 to 2500 rounds per minute. Ours has a heavier projectile (almost 400 grams versus 240) and a larger starting speed: 970 meters per second versus 810, which gives higher accuracy and firing range.
Eurocopter Tiger

The basis of the arsenal of any decent anti-tank helicopter (and these are the main tasks for both the Ka-52 and the Tiger) are guided missiles. The “main caliber” of the Ka-52 is the “Whirlwind” - a heavy laser-guided ATGM with a flight range of up to 8 kilometers and a speed of 2,200 kilometers per hour. The missile control system allows the laser beam to be fixed on the target immediately before impact, which dramatically reduces the likelihood of successful countermeasures.

For a European, the main anti-tank system is TRIGAT-LR (no less long-suffering than the helicopter itself - it took almost forty years to develop!). Combined IR/TV guidance system, 7 kilometers range, maximum speed about 1050 kilometers per hour.

Have you been working on this for forty years? We should have taken the Hellfire from the Americans and not disgraced ourselves. The Australians were the first buyers of the Tiger - by the way, they took it.

In addition to anti-tank missiles, both vehicles can carry air-to-air missiles (actually launchers suspended under the console portable air defense systems), unguided missiles and machine gun containers. The total arsenal on the Ka-52 is noticeably larger due to its greater mass: up to 2300 kilograms versus 1500 for the Tiger.

Ka-52 - 4.5
"Tiger" - 3

On-board electronics

Oddly enough, the capabilities of both machines in this part are close. They have developed flight and navigation systems that provide flights in difficult weather conditions and at any time of the day. Both helicopters are equipped with “glass” cockpits with liquid crystal displays, and both have helmet-mounted target designation systems.

Pilots can aim their weapons at targets by turning their heads.

The capabilities of the Ka-52 systems have been tested in combat in Syria. The Tiger has its own campaign - helicopters of this type were used in Mali, but not very successfully. One car was lost in the crash, the pilots were killed. For some reason, the Tigers were not sent to Syria and Iraq. Let's consider this an accident.
Ka-52 cockpit (photo: Vladislav Dmitrenko)

Ka-52 - 4.5
"Tiger" - 4.5

Reliability and ease of maintenance

The serviceability of the Ka-52 fleet is estimated at more than 90 percent. These are reliable cars with a proven power plant, and after a couple of incidents in the first years of operation, there were no problems with them.

“Tiger” still remains Princess and the Pea, with the park ready at 25-30%.

Failures regularly occur both in the helicopter's electronic systems and in the mechanical parts, which greatly disappoints users. As a result, the Germans and Australians are already looking for replacement options for their “electronic miracle”. The French are holding out for now.
Eurocopter Tiger

Ka-52 - 5
"Tiger" - 3

Price

The cost of the Ka-52 “for yourself” is about 900 million rubles apiece, for export - about 20 million dollars (not taking into account the price of ammunition, maintenance, training of pilots, technicians and other things that can raise the price twice or even higher). The Tiger, as befits a decent Western car, is more expensive - more than 40 million dollars for a helicopter (without the same additions).
Ka-52 (photo: Nikolay Krasnov)

It is clear why the Tigers - in addition to the French, Germans and Spaniards who initially signed up for them - managed to sell only 22 units for export over a decade and a half. More than fifty Ka-52s have already been shipped, and this is clearly not the limit - especially after the Syrian “demonstration flights”.

Ka-52 - 4
"Tiger" - 2.5.

So, it seems like everything has been calculated? Well, yes, probably. What's the result? As a result we have