integrated with other ground units under a
single command. It would be able to carry
out ‘in depth’ attack helicopter or airmobile
operations up to 93 miles (150km) behind
the enemy’s forward echelons. Although
there’s still a long way to go, the continued
induction of the Tigre could mark the beginning
of the Spanish Army’s airmobile brigade.
This option appears better suited to Spanish
requirements, and in such a scenario the
Tigre would be an essential element.
The main characteristic of the HAD version- or HAD-E (HAD – España) for Spain – is
its new MTR390-E engines which provide
additional power and performance compared
with the HAP. While the revised powerplant is
less critical for Germany’s helicopters, which
have a specialised anti-tank role, it has been
adopted by France, too. The ALAT cancelled
plans for an anti-tank variant of the Tigre and
amended its purchase by changing half of its
fleet to the HAD version. Meanwhile, a mid-life
upgrade of the earlier HAPs will bring them to a
standard similar to the HADs (see Busy Tigres,
but low availability, March 2017, p54-57).
At the same time, the Spanish Tigre HAD is
accomplishing important milestones. It has
completed the test-firing phase with the Rafael
Spike ER fibre-optic guided missile, which
has been selected as its primary weapon.
Firing trials were conducted on September
11, 2008 at the test centre at El Arenosillo
in Huelva province, which is owned by the
Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
(INTA, National Institute of Aerospace
Technology). Seven missiles were fired with
fully satisfactory results. Of these, five were
launched without their main propulsion section
simply to validate the integration between
the weapon and the helicopter, and to ensure
that the missile separated cleanly from the
Tigre. These test shots were conducted in
both the hover and in level flight. The other
two missiles fired were equipped with normal
motors and were able to hit their targets at
3.7 and 5 miles (6 and 8km) respectively.
The first missile was fired in lock-on beforelaunch (LOBL) mode, ie locking on to a target
before firing, and the second missile was
fired in lock-on after launch (LOAL) mode in
which the missile receives designation for a
target once in flight. Six of the seven missiles
were fired by a crew composed entirely of
Eurocopter pilots and the seventh (released in
LOBL mode) was launched by a Eurocopter
pilot in the front seat and a Spanish pilot in
the back seat acting as gunner-commander.Combat operations
When the decision was made to send three
FAMET Tigre HAPs to Afghanistan, Airbus
Helicopters España had only three months
to make the necessary adaptations to the
fleet, including installing armour plating
and sand filters, plus software upgrades.
Between January and March 2013,
modifications were made to four of the six
Tigres. Airbus Helicopters España also sent
a representative to Herat for the duration
of the deployment (March 17 to November
12, 2013) to facilitate troubleshooting,
manage spares and explain service bulletin
requirements, among other services. ThisFAMET Tigre
Variant Serial Code c/n
HAP-E HA.28.01 ET-701 2005
HAP-E HA.28-02 ET-702 2007
HAP-E HA.28-03 ET-703 2008
HAP-E HA.28-04 ET-704 2014
HAP-E HA.28-05 ET-705 2017
HAP-E HA.28-06 ET-706 2020
HAD-E HA.28-07 ET-707 5002
HAD-E HA.28-08 ET-708 5003
HAD-E HA.28-09 ET-709 5004
HAD-E HA.28-10 ET-710 5005
HAD-E B2 HA.28-11 ET-711 5006
HAD-E B2 HA.28-12 ET-712 5007
HAD-E B2 HA.28-13 ET-713 5008
HAD-E B2 HA.28-14 ET-714 5009
HAD-E B2 HA.28-15 ET-715 5010
HAD-E B2 HA.28-16 ET-716 5011
HAD-E B2 HA.28-17 ET-717 5012*
HAD-E B2 HA.28-18 ET-718 5013
HAD-E B2 HA.28-19 ET-719
HAD-E B2 HA.28-20 ET-720
HAD-E B2 HA.28-21 ET-721
HAD-E B2 HA.28-22 ET-722
HAD-E B2 HA.28-23 ET-723
HAD-E B2 HA.28-24 ET-724
* ET-717 remains at the Airbus Helicopters España
facilities at Albacete.The HAP and HAD variants, and Australia’s ARH,
are all armed with the Nexter M781 30mm cannon.
The gun has a rate of fi re of 750rpm and an initial
projectile velocity of 810m/sec. It can be fi red in
bursts of 10, 25 or 50 rounds. Francisco Francés
Above: Tigre ET-710, one of the FAMET’s original
HAD-E versions, undergoes work. All fi rst-
and second-line maintenance is conducted at
Almagro’s facilities, while deep maintenance is
performed at industry level, by Airbus Helicopters
España at Albacete.Spanish Army Tigre
96 // APRIL 2018 #361 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com