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The 22-strong fleet of the Australian Army's Airbus Helicopters Tiger armed reconnaissance platforms was riddled with capability deficiencies when full operational capability was declared in April, according to a 1 September report. Source: Australian DoD
The Australian Army's 22-strong fleet of Airbus Helicopters Tiger armed reconnaissance platforms was riddled with capability deficiencies when full operational capability (FOC) was declared in April, according to an Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) report released on 1 September.
The report said that the FOC declaration by the Chief of Army came seven years later than planned and was accompanied by nine operational caveats. These included the electronic warfare self-protection system, the Identification Friend or Foe system, and the communication and mission planning system.
The FOC declaration allowed the Tiger to be operationally employed in a land-based 'non-permissive' environment. However, the relevant documentation and advice to the defence minister did not define the meaning of such an environment.
Of the 76 deficiencies relating to the Australian Army's current and future operational requirements, 60 were deemed by the Department of Defence (DoD) to be critical and requiring resolution, the report stated.
Other key limitations mentioned in the report are related to shipborne operations, pilot numbers and flying hours, interoperability and communications, air-worthiness, rocket launchers, and the roof-mounted sight.
The ANAO also said that the small size of the international fleet - currently 119 aircraft flown by France, Germany, Spain, and Australia - had created a niche capability with the associated challenges of sustaining the aircraft within a limited supply chain.
The contract for 22 Tigers for AUD1.1 billion (USD827 million) was signed with Eurocopter International Pacific (now Airbus Group Australia Pacific) in 2001.
A 15-year sustainment contract provided for expenditure of AUD571 milllion. As of June 2016 expenditure was AUD 921 million, the report said.
As of the same date, the cost per flying hour for the Tiger fleet was AUD30,335 compared to a target of AUD20,000.
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http://www.janes.com/article/63378/...dled-with-capability-deficiencies-says-report
