34
GA
/ Vol. 5 / No.9 / SEPTEMBER 2013
Military News
The initial HAD/E
Tiger assembled
at Eurocopter
Spain performs
its first flight
Eurocopter's Tiger combat helicopter
program has reached an important
new milestone with the maiden
flight of the initial Tiger HAD/E
variant assembled at Eurocopter's
Spanish facilities in Albacete, Spain.
"This is an important
achievement for both the Tiger
program and for Eurocopter
Spain," said Juan Luis Cordero, the
Eurocopter Tiger program manager
in Spain. "The assembly of this
helicopter was made possible thanks
to a significant investment in both
industrial and human resources
and also to the close coordination
with other entities in the Group."
The milestone helicopter
assembled in Albacete designated
HAD/E-5002 will be the first unit
to enter service with the Fuerzas
Aeromviles del Ejercito de Tierra
(FAMET) Spanish Army helicopter
unit, with delivery planned by
the end of 2013. It follows the
first prototype (HAD/E-5001)
assembled at Eurocopter's
Marignane, France facilities
which has been performing the
certification and qualification flight
campaign in Spain since 2010.
The helicopter will significantly
reinforce the six French-
assembled Tiger HAP/E variants
currently operated by the Spanish
Army including missions in
Afghanistan with these rotorcraft.
The Tiger program represents an
important step in the multinational
cooperation between the defense
ministries of France, Germany
and Spain, as well as industry
stakeholders. The Tiger industrial
participation plan allowed Spanish
companies, under leadership of
Eurocopter Spain, to participate
in the complete helicopter
lifecycle from design and
manufacture, flight tests and
certification, to final assembly
and integral logistics support.
Furthermore, the Eurocopter
Spain factory in Albacete is the only
manufacturing plant for the Tiger
helicopter's rear fuselage section.
Other Spanish organizations
involved in the program included
ITP part of the MTRI consortium
which is participating in the design
and production of the upgraded
engines for the Spanish Tiger HAD/E
version. In addition, companies
such as Indra, Amper, ELIMCO,
Aernnova, TECHNOBIT, Desarrollos
Mecnicos de Precision (DMP),
Sacesa, and Celestica, were involved
primarily on component, systems
and equipment manufacturing.
There are several variants
of the Tiger helicopter classified
within the six-ton category,
designed for reconnaissance,
escort, protection, and air-to-air
as well as air-to-ground combat
missions. The HAD variant is the
most complete and modern version
of this family, which provides the
flexible multi-mission platform
that it is demanded by military
forces in operational theaters.
To date, the Tiger program
has 206 combined orders from
Germany (80 UHT), France (40
HAP/F and 40 HAD/F), Australia
(22 ARH) and Spain (24 HAD/E).
Through May 2013, there were 93
Tiger helicopters in service, with
some 44,430 total flight hours. ·
During July Boeing delivered the
Indian Air Force's (IAF) second
C-17 Globemaster III, a month
after India's first C-17 arrived in
the country and immediately began
supporting IAF operations.
This second IAF C-17 will also
immediately enter service. India
will receive 10 aircraft by 2014.
"Our first C-17 Globemaster
III not only signifies a tremendous
boost in our strategic airlift
capability, but is also poised to form
a major component in the IAF's
modernization drive," said Air Chief
Marshal NAK Browne, Chief of the
Indian Air Force. "Because it was
delivered mission-ready, it soon
undertook its first strategic mission
to our Andaman Nicobar Command
at Port Blair. I wish to place on
record my appreciation to the U.S.
government, the U.S. Air Force
and the Boeing team for the timely
delivery of the aircraft that makes
the IAF the world's second-largest
operator of the C-17 after the U.S."
Boeing is on schedule to deliver
three more IAF C-17s this year and
five in 2014. The C-17 can operate
in extreme climates, transport large
payloads across vast ranges and
land on short, austere runways.
"C-17s have an important
role in supporting unique Indian
Air Force operations in remote
locations such as the Himalayas
and desert environments," said Nan
Bouchard, Boeing vice president
and C-17 program manager. "The
C-17 provides the versatility to
complete any mission, anywhere.
We look forward to working
with the Indian Air Force and
the U.S. Air Force as we deliver
the remainder of India's fleet."
Boeing is supporting the IAF
aircraft through the Globemaster
III Integrated Sustainment Program
(GISP) Performance-Based Logistics
contract. The GISP "virtual fleet"
arrangement ensures mission
readiness by providing all C-17
customers access to an extensive
support network for worldwide parts
availability and economies of scale.
Boeing has delivered 255
C-17s, including 222 to the U.S. Air
Force, and a total of 33 to Australia,
Canada, India, Qatar, the United
Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom
and the 12-member Strategic Airlift
Capability initiative of NATO and
Partnership for Peace nations. ·
India to become largest C-17 operator outside the US