French Army Conducting Tiger HAD Trials

The French Army air corps has been conducting a series of trials with the first French Tiger HAD (Hélicoptère d'Appui Destruction).


The eight week programme, being conducted by the Valence-based GAMSTAT trials and evaluation unit, has also included Hellfire missile firings on the island of Levant in the Mediterranean.

The first Hellfire launch was carried out on 7 June, against a target at 4,200 m range.


The French Army has so far taken delivery of 37 Tiger helicopters, but these aircraft are in the HAP (Hélicoptère d'Appui Protection) which has no capability to deliver precision guided air-to-ground weaponry.

This capability is introduced with the HAD which also features more powerful engines. The army will get 40 examples of the HAD as well and plans to receive its first Tiger HAD at the end of this year.


Tiger HADs are also being purchased by the Spanish Army, where they will be known as Tiger HAD-E (‘E' for Espana).