Page 34 - HeliOps Frontline Issue 26

34 HELIOPS FRONTLINE / ISSUE 26 / 2019

d’Appui et de Protection) variant which is an intensified image projection to high-resolution
escort and fire support version. Powered by two infrared imaging with one click to improve
MTU Safran Rolls-Royce MTR390-2C turboshafts visibility in degraded visual conditions like
that give a maximum speed of 145kt (270 km/h) brownout, whiteout, and night flying. The helmet
and a MTOW of 13,000 lb (6,000 kg). The model is system weighs less than 2.2 kg and has
fitted with a SAGEM gyro-stabilized roof-mounted a customized helmet liner to individually fit
STRIX sight with FLIR camera, CCD TV, laser each crewmember.
rangefinder and a direct optical sight. A turreted The Tiger HAD (Helicóptero de Apoyo y
chin-mounted AM-30781 Nexter 30mm cannon, Destrucción, Spanish for “Support and Destruction
linked to both the roof and helmet mounted Helicopter”) is basically indistinguishable to
sights, has a firing rate of 750 rounds per minute. the HAP version from the outside. But with a
Stub wings on both sides can carry two 14% increase in engine power available from
MBDA Mistral air-to-air missiles each, two inner the enhanced MTR390-E turboshafts it is better
and two outer hard points can carry either two suited for operations in hot environments hence
paniers of twelve or twenty-two 68mm unguided why the model was chosen by the Spanish Army
rockets. If the Mistral missiles are not fitted, then Aviation. The 1467 shp generated by the engines
both paniers can be fitted making a total of 68 means that the MTOW is increased to 14,550 lb
rockets. In its combat support role, the HAP uses (6,600 kg). The Spanish also requested a two-way
its rockets for medium and long-range target, satellite communication Link capability, enhanced
the Mistral missiles for airborne targets and its ballistic protection and the capability to operate
cannon for short-range ground targets. the Rafael Spike- ER missiles. This is an air-to-
Both crewmembers use a Thales TopOwl ground missile with lock-on before launch and
helmet-mounted display and sighting system automatic self-guidance and is equipped with an
which can show images from any of the sensors imaging infrared seeker. License built by General
on the aircraft and is able to slave any of the Dynamics, Santa Bárbara Sistemas in Spain, it has
weapons being carried. TopOwl can switch from a minimum range of 400 m and a maximum of