Tiger Deck Landing: Eurocopter and DGA extend the Flight Envelop

From 21 May to 7 June 2007, under the supervision of Eurocopter and the French General Delegation for Armaments (DGA), a Tiger helicopter took part in navalization trials on two French Navy vessels, the Amphibious Landing Dock (ALD) Siroco. and the Lafayette-type frigate Guépratte.

The capability of the Tiger to operate on a ship was put to the test in extremely severe weather conditions, with 6-meter swells, winds close to 100 km/h, and deck angles up to 12 degrees. The aim of the sea trials was to evaluate deck landing capability and to define the operations for helicopter tie-down after landing, blade folding, and handling on the deck, hangar and well deck of the ALD. In the 13 days at sea, the Tiger accomplished 300 deck landings and 80 logistic operations, confirming its outstanding suitability for ship-based operations.

The trials were part of the standard 1 qualification of the HAP Tiger to determine its capability to operate from French Navy ships. The navalization trials were a major challenge for the French Army and an important milestone in the program schedule. From late 2008 on, the Tiger must be able to operate from deployment & command ships, aircraft carriers and ALDs. The evolution in the helicopter's definition covers the folding of 2 and 4 blades, engine rinsing, modifying the hydraulic pressure system, as well as the tools and equipment necessary for the Tiger operation.

Australia and Spain expressed a keen interest in the trials. Australian Ministry of Defence representatives were on board during the tests and Australia should perform similar trials. The deliveries of the 22 helicopters ordered by Australia in 2001 began in late 2004. The Tiger program supplies the French, German and Spanish armies with a new generation combat helicopter. Highly maneuverable and very mobile, the multi-role Tiger can perform day and night attack missions against armored vehicles, other helicopters and infrastructures on the ground. Designed for on-the-battlefield maintenance, the Tiger can operate outside the reach of major infrastructures.

Eurocopter is the prime industrial contractor, and OCCAR manages the French, German and Spanish program on behalf of these three nations.

Established in 1992, the Franco-German-Spanish Eurocopter Group is a Division of EADS, a world leader in aerospace, defence and related services. The Eurocopter Group employs approx. 14,000 people. In 2006, Eurocopter confirmed its position as the world’s No. 1 helicopter manufacturer with a turnover of 3.8 billion euros, orders for 615 new helicopters, and a 52% percent market share in the civil and parapublic sectors. Overall, the Group’s products account for 30% percent of the total world helicopter fleet. Its strong worldwide presence is ensured by its 17 subsidiaries on five continents, along with a dense network of distributors, certified agents and maintenance centres. More than 9,800 Eurocopter helicopters are currently in service with over 2,500 customers in 140 countries. Eurocopter offers the largest civil and military helicopter range in the world.

European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS N.V.
Mendelweg 30 · 2333 CS Leiden · Holanda

EADS Deutschland GmbH · 81663 Múnich · Alemania
EADS France S.A.S. · 37, boulevard de Montmorency · 75781 Paris Cedex 16 · Francia
EADS CASA · Ava. de Aragón, 404, 28022 Madrid · España