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BG  Comparison – Tactical Helicopters – Australian Army Aviation [2]

The Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter The goal of the ARH project (AIR 87) is to replace the Australian Army's Kiowa light observation helicopter  and 'Huey' gunship with one type.  The Eurocopter Tiger was chosen (differing from French Tigre HAPs, with ADF-specified comm/ data systems and Hellfire II missiles).[1]

A Thylacine from Europe? The ARH 'Aussie Tiger' The ADF has ordered 22 of  these attack helicopters which will equip two  new squadrons at  Townsville. The first  French-built aircraft arrived  in Australia in 2004, the first Australian-assembled ARH [2]  flew in July 2005. Final military type certification occured in March 2006. Squadron service is scheduled for June 2007, final  Tiger ARH delivery is due April 2008. [3]

Multi-Role Helicopter  –  Eurocopter's MRH90 Troop Lifter In August 2004, the MRH90 was selected to replace the aged Huey utility helicopter in Australian service. The order for 12 Eurocopter NH90s came a something of surprise [4] and more surprises were in store.  Much larger than the Bell UH-1Hs in service, MRH90s would also augment the troop lifting ability of Army Aviation's trouble-prone Black Hawks. Project AIR 9000, which led to the MRH90 was aimed at rationalization as well as procurement.  In June of  2006, it was announced that 34 more MRH90s would be bought.

The first 12 MRH90 are destined for Australian  Army Aviation. Of the remainder, six will replace shipboard Sea King Mk50 heli- copters of the Royal Australian Navy in 2010. The rest, between 2011 and 2015, will replace Army Black Hawks. The MRH90 will carry 18 troops (or 12 stretchers) along with a crew of four. First of the original 12 Army MRH90s will arrive in 2007 [5]  when the type enters service – delivery of all 12 is to be complete by 2009. Transition training onto the Army MRH90 will be at Townsville.

"More composition and fierce quality"  or  'Strewth !  She's a Beaut of a Ute !' Like the ARH, most of the MRH90s (42 out of 46) will be assembled in Australia. The two Eurocopter designs have little in common other than general construct- ion. Both airframes are built largely from 'composite' materials and have 'fly-by- wire' controls systems. The latter is meant to "lower operating and maintenance costs". The former eliminates most corrosion concerns – an issue for both RAN and the Army whose helicopters are also expected to operate from ships during amphibious operations. Australia has increased its capability and commonality.

Also see:  Background Comparison: Tactical Helicopters – Australian Army Aviation [1] , the formation of Army Aviation in Australia.

[1] ARH also carries 68mm Belgian TDA/FZ unguided rockets rather than French SNEBs. Hellfire II replaces Trigat (or HOT 3). The ARH gun is GIAT's 30mm DEFA M781 auto-cannon mounted in a THL30 chin turret.  Decoy countermeasures consist of both flares and chaff. [2] Four Eurocopter-built ARH were delivered to Australia by VDA An-124. The 18 remaining Australian Tiger ARHs will be assembled in Brisbane by Australian Aerospace, a Eurocopter subsidiary.  For more details on A78 Tiger production, see: ADF Aircraft Serial Numbers. [3] Compared to Canadian programs, ARH Tiger procurement was very brisk. Request for Proposal: May 1998, Shortlist/Project Approval: 1999, Request for Tender: Dec 2000, Cabinet Approval: Aug 2001, Contract signed: Dec 2001, In service Dec 2004, Crew training: Jan 2005. The RFT resulted in submissions from six firms: Agusta A129 Scorpion (Mangusta), Bell Viper (Cobra), Boeing Apache, Denel Rooivalk, Eurocopter Tiger and Sikorsky 'AH-60L' Battle Hawk (a Black Hawk with chin turret). Agusta, Boeing, and Eurocopter were short-listed. [4] Many expected further Australian orders for S-70A Black Hawks. Earlier in 2004, both Sikorsky and Eurocopter were invited to submit tenders for the project (the Agusta Westland EH-101 had already been eliminated). Things fell into place when New Zealand also ordered the Eurocopter NH90 as replacements for RNZAF Hueys in April 2005 –  opening up more opportuities for joint maintenance, training, etc. [5] Service entry and production completion (of those original 12 MRH90 airframes) is a year behind schedule due to technical problems).