Airbus Helicopters To Upgrade Tiger Attack Helicopter

Airbus Helicopters is working to develop a new version of its tiger helicopter known as the Mk3.

The work is being conducted under an 'architecture study' commissioned by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on 31 July.

According to an announcement by OCCAR, the study aims "to define the so-called 'Tiger Mk3' - the future configurations materialising the mid-life upgrade (MLU)" to the helicopter.

The first stage will look at potential new features and enhancements to the helicopter, to improve areas such as survivability, maintainability, or operability, with "a strong focus on life cycle cost" according to OCCAR.

The Tiger Mk3 study will incorporate lessons learned during previous deployments as it was deployed on operations since it made its combat debut in Afghanistan in 2009. Further French Tigers have also been in service in Libya and Mali.

OCCAR states the study will allow the Tiger-operating nations (Australia, France, Germany and Spain) "to choose which combinations of equipment, functions, performances and architectures should be selected for the future development phase" of the Tiger helicopter.

The needs for the Tiger Mk3 have already been developed and harmonised commonly between the OCCAR nations as and Australia to increase the cost-effectiveness of the MLU programme.

Moreover, France, Germany, Spain and OCCAR are working together with Australia to establish a common cooperative framework to be used for the future preparation and development of Mk3.