Three Eurocopter EC Tiger helicopters arrived in Kabul on July 25, marking the first deployment of the helicopter type in a war theater. French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Elrick Irastorza declared initial operational capability on Aug.
Full operational capability of the Tiger HAP combat support variant followed four days later after 50 flight hours, 20 percent at night. A combination of either four Mistral missiles and 44 rockets or just 68 unguided rockets in four pods can be carried, or just Hellfire IIs and Mistral AAMs.
Only one weapon can be activated at a time. To cope with the high altitude in Afghanistan β Kabul is situated at about 6, feet altitude β the French Tigers only use their gun and a total of 18 unguided 68mm rockets to improve autonomy during their average three-hour sorties.
To avoid coming to grips with the very abrasive, omnipresent Afghan "khak," or dust, and to ensure full protection of their engines, the three French ALAT Tigers are equipped with special streamlined sand filters that eliminate all ingestion risks when operating from unprepared landing pads.
Gilles Darricau. The colonel, head of the 5e RHC at Pau, expected his Tiger crews to come under enemy fire at any time. We know the Afghan theater is dangerous for our helicopter crews, but we are trained to face all risks.
