The Chief of Staff of the French Army, Pierre Schill, announced the deployment of four Tiger helicopters from the Alat (light aviation of the French Army) in the Gulf. They will reinforce the six Rafale of the Air Force already there, supporting the present squadron 1/7 Provence. The helicopters provide an additional option in the fight against Iranian drones.
The Tiger is equipped with a 30mm cannon, capable of firing up to 720 rounds per minute, with a range of about 2,500 meters. In an interview with “Le Point,” Pierre Schill also mentioned the possible integration of laser rockets on the Tiger, even though the focus is on using its powerful cannon. He also stated that they are experimenting with interceptor drones on site.
80% of the Tiger is made of composite materials. In service since 2005, the Tiger is a French-German combat helicopter designed by Airbus Helicopters, capable of day and night combat against slow ground or air targets. It performs protection and destruction support missions. Depending on the version, it can also carry four Mistral air-to-air missiles with a range of 6 km, and Hellfire anti-tank missiles, intended to be replaced by the Akeron long-range missile from MBDA with a minimum range of 8 km.
Capable of flying at over 250 km/h at full load, the Tiger has an autonomy ranging from 2.5 to 4 hours, depending on the chosen configuration. With 80% composite materials (Kevlar, carbon fiber), the helicopter offers excellent maneuverability, allowing it to perform loops, move agilely in complex operational areas like mountains, and fly backward at a speed of 70 km/h.
The deployment in the Middle East aims to protect Gulf countries threatened by Iranian Shahed drones, and to use less costly options than the Mica missiles launched by the Rafale, with an estimated cost between 600,000 and 700,000 euros per unit.
