Attack Helicopter – Eurocopter Tiger (Tiger HAP)
Description
In 1984 the French and German governments issued a requirement for an advanced multi-role battlefield helicopter. A joint venture consisting of Aerospatiale and MBB was subsequently chosen as the preferred supplier. Due to high costs, the program was canceled in 1986, but was relaunched during 1987. Subsequently, in November 1989, Eurocopter received a contract to build 5 prototypes. Three were to be unarmed testbeds and the other two armed prototypes: one for the German anti-tank variant and the other for the French escort helicopter variant.
The first prototype first flew in April 1991. When Aerospatiale and MBB, among others, merged in 1992 to form the Eurocopter Group, the Tiger program was transferred as well. Serial production of the Tiger began in March 2002 and the first flight of the first production Tiger HAP for the French Army took place in March 2003. The delivery of the first of the eighty helicopters ordered by the French took place in September 2003.
This helicopter also features in the James Bond hit, Goldeneye, which is stolen from a French Frigate during a public display for use in Russia.
BF2 Information
Unfortunatly, the Tiger only features in 1 of the Euroforce maps - that being Operation Smoke Screen. Although it is debatable that it was also originally going to be included on Great Wall with the findings of helipads that are out-of-bounds. However, they may also have been for the EU's missing Lynx transport helicopter, which never made it to the final version.
The helicopter itself is armed just like the BF2 attack helicopters and is comparable in size to the Chinese WZ-10. It is fairly easy to circle with, just like the AH-1Z and WZ-10 in many respects. The advantage of it, is that it packs the MEC's Mi-28 Havoks cannon for the gunner, making it small and agile with the best helicopter weapons too.
Weaponry
Driver
Missiles: 8x 70mm Hydra Missiles
Evasive action: Flares
Gunner
Cannon: 1x 30mm cannon
TV Missiles: AGM-114 Hellfire AT Missiles
Links
Vehicle Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurocopter_Tiger
Vehicle Picture: http://www.airforceworld.com/
Vehicle BF2 Screencaps: http://www.ea.com/official/battlefield/battlefield2/us/editorial.jsp?src=vehicles