Bundeswehr no longer wants to participate in the modernization of Tiger attack helicopters

The Bundeswehr no longer wants to participate in the modernization of the Tiger combat helicopters, which are prone to technical breakdowns. Studies have shown that “participation in the Tiger MK-III program would be highly risky in terms of cost and time,” a Defense Department spokeswoman said. Previously had the Southgerman newspaper reported on the plans of the Bundeswehr.

With the Tiger MK III program, to which Spain and France have already committed themselves as other user nations, the helicopters should be fundamentally technically revised.

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The ministry spokeswoman also explained that the last German combat helicopter, the Tiger, will be withdrawn from use without further measures “according to current planning in 2038”. In April 2022, then Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) declared that only nine out of 51 Tiger helicopters were operational. From 2031 onwards, the fleet is to be slowly reduced. However, the Bundeswehr does not want to rely on other attack helicopters available on the market, such as the Apache helicopter or Viper machines from the USA. According to the Süddeutsche Zeitung Do you now want to buy lighter helicopters that were originally designed for civilian purposes and then further developed for the military.

A spokeswoman confirmed that the Bundeswehr is planning to purchase light attack helicopters that are available on the market. The models that have been envisaged are comparable products to combat helicopters in terms of their capabilities:

“Against the background of being able to procure it quickly and on the market, the Bundeswehr can be provided with a powerful and assertive light attack helicopter at short notice.”

The Airbus H-145M helicopter is under discussion as a successor model. In the civilian variant, this is used in rescue services. The Bundeswehr is planning to equip it with anti-tank weapons. According to the newspaper, the ministry wants to get the procurement through parliament this year. H-145M helicopters are already in use as light multi-purpose helicopters to support special forces in the Bundeswehr. A total of 15 helicopters of this type were procured for the Bundeswehr.

More on the subject – Flight freeze for all Tiger combat helicopters – technical defects discovered after six years