EC-665 Tiger HAD
| This page is about the French attack helicopter EC-665 Tiger HAD. For other versions, see Tiger Eurocopter (Family). |
Contents
Description
The EC-665 Tiger HAD (Hélicoptère d'Appui Destruction; "Helicopter for Support and Destruction") is a modification of the preceding HAP variant, intended to improve its heavy frontline support and anti-tank capabilities. Developed in the early 2000s together with the Spanish army, the HAD variant received an improved engine, as well as the ability to carry the latest weapons such as Hellfire II missiles. France planned to increase its fleet of these helicopters to 67 units by 2025, of which about 40 were to be converted from the previous HAP model, and the rest manufactured from scratch. In 2022, Airbus and France reached an agreement to upgrade the existing Tiger HADs into a new block, allowing them to carry better ordnance and avionics.
Introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision", the Tiger HAD provides a great CAS option for the French tech tree in top rank tank battles, thanks to its great avionics (MAW), optics (thermals), and decent selection of various missiles for various jobs, including Mistrals and Stingers for the air-to-air role, along with HOT-3 ATGMs and AGM-114K Hellfire II missiles to provide longer range ground support. The HAD is a popular pick both for mixed battles and helicopter Enduring Confrontation battles where it can make short work of targets from a safe distance thanks to its decent missile selection and great optics.
General info
Flight performance
Fully spaded without load this attack helicopter can fly 315 km/h in cruise speed. In reality with the most common load of 8 x Hellfire missiles and 4 x Mistrals is reaching almost 300 km/h which is still really great. Tiger itself requires skill to fly. Proper manipulation of collective pitch and understanding in what circumstances you as a pilot cannot overload the engines and how to perform aggressive manoeuvres (especially on low attitudes and against planes) will make this machine extremely deadly. Tiger feels heavy but agile at the same time.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 1,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | ||
| Stock | 291 | 277 | 4300 |
| Upgraded | 334 | 315 | |
Survivability and armour
This is one of the best-protected helicopters in the game, thanks to the composite tub around the crew and the firewall separating the 2 engines. To make use of this, when attacked by plane, the best option is to face it frontally to create the smallest possible area to hit. But like every helicopter damaged near engines, the main rotor or tail (OTOMATIC's rain of explosive shells is very dangerous) can be taken down fairly quickly.
- AMAP-AIR, Advanced Modular Armour Protection - Air: Composite martial encloses all the crew compartment - 20 mm thick
- Kevlar seats - 5 mm thick
- Single steel firewall between the engines - 8 mm thick
Modifications and economy
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Armaments
| Ballistic Computer | ||
|---|---|---|
| CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) |
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Offensive armament
The EC-665 Tiger HAD is armed with:
- 1 x 30 mm GIAT M781 cannon, nose turret (450 rpg)
- 32 x countermeasures
- 16 x large calibre countermeasures
The 30 mm cannon only fires high explosive ammo (4 mm penetration), so it is advised only to use it against aircraft and light-armoured, open-topped vehicles.
Suspended armament
The EC-665 Tiger HAD can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNEB type 23 rockets | 12 | 22 | 22 | 12 | |
| AGM-114K Hellfire II missiles | 2, 4 | 2, 4 | |||
| ATAS (AIM-92) missiles | 2 | 2 | |||
| HOT-3 missiles | 2, 4 | 2, 4 | |||
| Mistral missiles | 2 | 2 |
| Default weapon presets | |
|---|---|
| |
Defensive systems
The EC-665 Tiger HAD only has the following Defensive systems installed:
- Countermeasures - installs 48 Countermeasures.
- MAW - Missile Approach Warning system.
- ATAM - Air To Air Missile.
The MAW system provides warnings that missiles have been launched and automatically deploys countermeasures. The ATAM allows for the Mistral air-to-air missile to be installed, these are installed on each wing's hard point, which means 50% of the available hard points are used by the mistral air-to-air missiles, meaning the suspended armament are reduced by half. However, the Mistral missiles are one of the best missiles in the game, able to destroy anything which it locks on to.
Usage in battles
For Realistic and Simulation Battles, the best tactic is to stay as low as possible and at first perform reconnaissance. If you start with the helicopter, your first goal is to find and take down enemy helicopters on flanks (don't bother on ones over the battlefield, as you will most likely be destroyed by anti-aircraft fire). It is best to use flares before you think you might need them, as firing them too late are a very common mistake that helicopter pilots make, as when the red launch is an indication that it already may be too late.
The second task is to find good flank position or behind if possible (watch out for helipads anti-aircraft fire) spot to scan for potential ground enemies. Targeting sight on top of the cabin called STRIX gives the possibility to stay low and watch the area around. Use thermal vision, but don't hesitate to switch back to normal view (especially while shooting HOT-3 missiles, which might cause light-bloom and obscure your view in thermal-mode). The Tiger can carry up to 8 x Hellfire missiles. The biggest advantage of AGM-114 is the fact that while shooting they do not give up and will continue to seek the enemy's helicopter position until the fuel runs out, unlike others directly shot ATGMs. In terms of effectiveness, it can be very deadly but only when know how to use it, however since Hellfire attacks from the top it might be hard to hit moving targets with it. The best way is to aim and shoot behind or before the target and in the last moment re-aim on the enemy (typically around four seconds before hit-this technique requires practice). This might make your chance higher to directly hit the enemy on the move. Once again stay low, between buildings, trees, almost on the ground if necessary, listen to the sky for planes sound. Don't stay in gunner's view too long. Watch what's going on around you all the time. Eurocopter Tiger HAD has all the tools to fight with air and ground and to survive. Use all tools, bind all keys for easy access (flares, hoover mode, aim, and launch AA mistrals). It's a high learning curve, high reward, deadly machine.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Tough airframe, can withstand multiple hits from 9K127 Vikhr missiles
- Very agile and fast
- Great manoeuvrability at low speeds
- Great payload selection
- Mistral missiles are some of the best in-game air to missiles, great range and lock-on
Cons:
- Lacks the same level of defensive systems as on rival platforms from NATO AH-64D Longbow and Russia's Ka-52 Alligator
- Only has four wing mounts, compared to the six on the American AH-64D Longbow and Russia's Ka-52 Alligator
- Only 8 ATGMs compared to its contemporaries with 12 or even 16 ATGMs
History
The EC-665 Tiger HAD is an improved model of the Tiger HAP. HAD stands for Hélicoptère d'Appui Destruction in French and Helicóptero de Apoyo y Destrucción in Spanish for "Support and Destruction Helicopter". The Spanish Army ordered 24 Tiger HADs in 2004, while the French Army Light Aviation (ALAT) ordered 40. France also decided to upgrade their existing Tiger HAPs to the HAD standard starting in 2015.
The Tiger HAD is mostly similar to the earlier Tiger HAP, but with more powerful Enhanced MTR390 engines with 14% more engine power. This increased the maximum takeoff weight to 6,600 kg. Additionally, the communications suite was expanded with an Up Link and Down Link satellite antenna. The ballistic protection was also increased due to a request by the Spanish Army.
The armament consists of a 30 mm Nexter (formerly GIAT) M781 nose-mounted gun turret, and either 68 mm SNEB or 70 mm Hydra 70 rockets, Hellfire II anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), or Mistral air-to-air missiles in French service. Other armaments are available for the Spanish helicopters; they use the Spike-ER rather than the Hellfire II ATGMs. The EC-665 Tiger HAD can be used in the attack, escort, fire support, reconnaissance, and air-to-air combat roles.
Spanish Tiger HADs were deployed to Afghanistan in March 2013, in order to support the Spanish ground forces that were already there. The first French combat deployment of the Tiger HAD was to Mali in November 2014, as support for the French intervention in the Mali War; they were sent to Mali after being deemed combat capable.
Media
- Skins
- Images
- Videos
See also
External links
| Eurocopter Group | |
|---|---|
| Attack | EC-665 Tiger HAD · Tiger HAD Block 2 · EC-665 Tiger HAP · EC-665 Tiger UHT |
| France helicopters | |
|---|---|
| Attack | ▄H-34 · EC-665 Tiger HAD · Tiger HAD Block 2 · EC-665 Tiger HAP |
| Utility | IAR 316B · SA 313B Alouette II · SA 316B Alouette III · SA.341F Gazelle · SA.342M Gazelle |
