Australian Army’s Tiger Reconnaissance Helicopters Granted Tactical Data Link Upgrade

The Australian Army’s Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters was granted an approval for an interim Tactical Data Link upgrade, Minister for Defense Senator David Johnston announced today.

A total of 21 Tiger helicopters will be upgraded with tactical information exchange solution that further integrates the Tiger into the combined arms land force battle space.

“The interim Tactical Data Link will improve the Tiger’s situational awareness in the battle space by improving the helicopter’s ability to receive in flight tactical positioning of friendly and known enemy forces,” Johnston said. “The data link will enable sharing targeting information, coordinate battlefield movements and tactical objectives, and transmit real-time reconnaissance information between the aircraft and the land forces.”

“The project will also inform potential future upgrades for the Tiger that will deliver a fully integrated tactical data link solution after 2020, building on the existing lessons provided by this interim configuration,” he added.

The acquisition is valued at less than $20 million and will include the associated training and support to fully enable a Tactical Data Link capability.

Elbit Systems Australia will work as the software and battle management system developer, and Airbus Group Australia Pacific will conduct the aircraft technical modification works.

Through life support to the project will be managed under existing contract arrangements relating to the particular components of the tactical data link capability.