EC-665 Tiger HAD

EC-665 Tiger HAD

EC-665 Tiger HAD

France

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.7	11.0	10.7

Class:

Attack helicopter

Utility helicopter

Research:400 000

Purchase:1 020 000

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This page is about the French helicopter EC-665 Tiger HAD. For other uses, see EC-665 Tiger HAP.

Description

The EC-665 Tiger HAD is a rank VII French helicopter with a battle rating of 10.7 (AB/SB) and 11.0 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.91 "Night Vision".

General info

Flight performance

Fully spaded without load this attack helicopter can fly 315 kph in cruise speed. In reality with the most common load of 8 x hellfire missiles and 4 x mistrals is reaching almost 300 kph which is 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	4,300
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, 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

Armaments

Offensive armament

EC-665 Tiger HAD is outfitted with the following:

1 x 30 mm GIAT M781 autocannon (750 RPG)

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

• 44 x 68 mm TDA rocket
• 24 x SNEB type 23 rocket & 44 x 68 mm TDA rocket
• 8 x HOT-3 missiles
• 8 x HOT-3 missiles & 24 x SNEB type 23 rocket
• 4 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles
• 4 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles & 24 x SNEB type 23 rocket
• 8 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles
• 8 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles & 24 x SNEB type 23 rocket
• 4 x Mistral air-to-air missiles
• 4 x Mistral air-to-air missiles & 44 x 68 mm TDA rocket
• 4 x Mistral air-to-air missiles & 8 x HOT-3 missiles
• 2 x Mistral air-to-air missiles, 8 x HOT-3 missiles & 12 x SNEB type 23 rocket
• 4 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles & 4 x Mistral air-to-air missiles
• 8 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles & 4 x Mistral air-to-air missiles
• 4 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles, 2 x Mistral air-to-air missiles & 12 x SNEB type 23 rocket
• 8 x AGM-114B Hellfire missiles, 2 x Mistral air-to-air missiles & 12 x SNEB type 23 rocket

Defensive systems

The EC-665 Tiger HAD only has the following Defensive systems installed:

• F-flares - installs 60 F-flares.
• MAW - Missile Approach Warning system.
• ATAM- Air To Air Missile.

The MAW system allows for 60 F-flares to be installed, along with warnings that missiles have been launched. The ATAM, Allow for the mistral Air to Air missile to be installed, these are installed on each wings 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 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 other 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 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 to 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.

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Compressor		Flak jacket	TELSON 12	MAW
II			Helicopter frame	HOT-3	New 30 mm cannons
III	Engine	Replacing helicopter blades	NVD	AGM-114	ATAM
IV			Cover	AGM-114 2

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Tough air frame, 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 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.

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

Images

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Videos

The Shooting Range #167 - Metal Beasts section at 00:32 discusses the Eurocopter Tiger.

See also

• EC-665 Tiger HAP - Another version of the EC-665 Tiger in the French tech tree.
• EC-665 Tiger UHT - A version found in the German tech tree.
• AH-64D - An American attack helicopter at the same BR.
• Mi-28N and Ka-52 - Russian helicopters at the same BR.
• AH Mk.1 - A British helicopter at the same BR.

External links

• [Development] Eurocopter Tiger: Pouncing on the Prey