Tiger

Programul de inzestrare a Australian Defence Force (ADF) cu un elicopter pentru misiuni de atac si recunoastere fara rival, a atins un punct major in desfasurarea programului, prin livrarea ultimului elicopter Tiger.

Bilocul care in prezent se afla in serviciul fortelor armate din mai multe tari si care este folosit operational in misiuni de lupta in Afganistan, de catre francezi, Tiger ARH 022 a fost acceptat de catre oficialii australieni la Australian Aerospace Final Assembly, pe aeroportul din Brisbane.

Achizitionate sub programul denumit Project Air 87, elicopterele Tiger vor inlocui in dotare Bell-urile 206B-1 Kiowa de recunoastere si pe Iroquois-urile UH-1H “gunship”. Tigrii au intrat in componenta 1st Aviation Regiment in Darwin, a Army Aviation Training Center in Queensland si la RAAF Edinburgh, in Sudul Australiei.

Comentand livrarea ultimului aparat, Dr. Jens Goennemann CEO al Australian Aerospace a declarat:

“This is a great day for Army Aviation, the Australian Defence Force and for Australian Aerospace, marking another important milestone in the ARH program.

“The Tiger ARH has been a complex and demanding program and one not without its fair share of challenges,’ 

‘But extensive collaboration and a cooperative approach by Australian Aerospace, our industry partners and the various ADF branches involved has been a significant contributor to where we proudly stand today.”

Dr. Goennemann said delivery of ARH022 did not signify an end to Australian Aerospace’s Tiger relationship with the ADF. “Australian Aerospace will continue to work with Army to support, maintain and bring this important new platform to maturity within the ADF.”

Echipat cu un tun de 30 de milimetri in turela, cu proiectile reactive nedirijate de 70 mm si rachete Hellfire, Tiger poate detecta si angaja tine aflate la distanta mare.  Francezii au operat cu succes Tigrii in misiuni de lupta reale in Afganistan incepand cu 2009 si recent, in campania din Libia.

Sursa: Defencetalk