From 15 to 19 November 2009, the Tiger will be performing daily flight demonstrations at the Dubai Air Show, marking the new generation combat helicopter’s first public appearance in the region. Test Pilot Fabrice Bonne and Flight Test Engineer Laurent Palcy will be at the controls to demonstrate the aircraft’s exceptional maneuverability. The crew will be dazzling the crowd with aerial maneuvers such as the “pitch up” and “roll off” that no other helicopter in the world can execute.

The Tiger was originally developed for France and Germany in response to both countries’ needs during the East-West conflict, but was then able to successfully adapt in a rapidly changing geostrategic environment by offering an impressive range of multifunction capabilities and developing specific versions customized to the different needs of each customer country.

A total of 206 Tigers have been ordered in its different versions: Australia has ordered 22 Tigers in the ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) version, which was developed specifically for the country and has now received its final qualification. The HAD (Hélicoptère Appui Destruction) version of the Tiger has been ordered by both France (40 helicopters) and Spain (24 helicopters), with the first deliveries slated for 2011. France has also ordered 40 HAP (Hélicoptère Appui Protection) Tigers, while Germany has opted for 80 Tigers in the UHT combat support version. Nearly fifty Tigers have been delivered and have already logged more than 13,000 flight hours.

A new milestone was reached at the end of December 2008 when the HAP and UHT versions received their final qualifications, clearing the way for entry into operational service and deployment in foreign theaters. Development on the HAD version has also been moving steadily ahead, with qualification scheduled for the end of 2011. The HAD offers increased flexibility as it can be equipped with anti-tank missiles, and greater power as well thanks to its MTR390 Enhanced engine (MTR390-E), which offers 14% more takeoff power than the MTR390-2C engines installed on the HAP, UHT and ARH Tigers. The new engine can also handle the Tiger’s augmented maximum take-off weight, which has increased from 6.1 to 6.6 metric tons.

In the summer of 2008, Tiger helicopters were deployed for their first combat missions. Three HAP Tigers from the French Army Air Corps (the ALAT) operated by the 5th Regiment of Combat Helicopters, based in Pau, were sent to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). They are now successfully performing missions on a daily basis in the Afghan theater, which is known for its demanding operating conditions.