OCCAR launches Tiger Mk III attack helicopter de-risking phase.

The European defence procurement agency OCCAR-EA has placed two contracts with a consortium composed of Airbus Helicopters Tiger, Thales AVS and MBDA,  on behalf of the French, German and Spanish Armament agencies, DGA, BAAINBw and DGAM. They aim to de-risk the obsolescence treatment of the current Tiger helicopters, as well as the implementation of new capabilities.

Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack helicopter
(Credit: Airbus Helicopters)

The launch of this new phase is the conclusion of a 3-year work period between the three Participating States (France, Germany and Spain), Airbus Helicopters and OCCAR, to investigate possible technologies and architectures able to meet future operational requirements.

At the end of these de-risking studies, France, Germany and Spain shall have a technical baseline to decide on the launch of the development of a Mid-Life Upgrade (Mk III). The Tiger Mk III will integrate advanced technologies such as a new avionics suite and will provide an improved weapon system, allowing Tiger to keep superiority on the battlefield for the next decades.

The Mk III development activities are due to start before 2020, with a decision on the firm configuration likely in 2018 or 2019 ahead of production in the mid-2020s.

Key upgrades will be to the helicopter’s avionics and weapons, notably replacement of the various anti-tank missiles, including the AGM-114 Hellfire and Spike, used by the Tiger’s European operators.