INDUSTRY

Airbus Helicopters Offers Cost Effective Australian Tiger for Project LAND4503

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BRISBANE: Airbus Helicopters is offering a cost-effective approach for taking the Tiger platform beyond 2040, in response to Australia’s Request for Information (RFI) for the Project LAND4503 Armed Reconnaissance Capability. The RFI seeks solutions for the army’s future armed reconnaissance helicopter needs. Airbus is the manufacturer of the tandem seat Tiger helicopters introduced to the Australian Army in 2004. Eighteen of the 22 units were assembled at the Airbus site in here.

“Tiger is an extremely agile, effective, and digitally connected armed reconnaissance  helicopter,” said Airbus Australia Pacific Managing Director, Andrew Mathewson recently 

“Since delivery, the Australian Tiger has matured into a fully operational army capability, and is integrated into the combined arms team. It continues to prove itself as an adaptable platform, and is now a key element of Australia’s amphibious capabilities on-board the Canberra Class Landing Helicopter Docks.”

The Tiger fleet has been serving Australia for more than 15 years. The Airbus Helicopters proposal will offer the Australian Army and taxpayer with more than AUD3 billion in savings against the expected budget for LAND4503.

Cost per flight hour of the Australian Tiger has reduced by more than 30%, and the sortie success rate is currently sitting at above 95%. It is these measures that are acknowledged in Australia and internationally as unmatched, and place Tiger in a compelling position. “Airbus proudly delivers a strong Australian industry capability, including more than 260 local staff supporting Tiger,” Mathewson added.

Airbus Helicopters Tiger fleet has proven itself in diverse and extreme environments around the world with 120,000 flights hours logged by international operators, including more than 30,000 in Australia. It has provided support to counter insurgency operations in Mali, security operations in Afghanistan, and amphibious strike in Libya, operating reliably in the harsh extremes of heat and cold of the desert and in the maritime domain.

A total of 181 Tigers have been delivered, serving in the armed forces of Australia, France, Germany and Spain. The versatile attack helicopter has proven its capability in operational theatres around the world as a highly versatile, stealthy, and manoeuvrable attack helicopter.