The acquisition of an interim Tactical Data Link for the Australian Army’s ARH Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters has been approved by Minister for Defence Senator David Johnston. A total of 21 helicopters are set to be upgraded.
The project, which is valued at less than $20 million, will inform the assessment of potential future upgrades intended to deliver a fully integrated solution after 2020 that builds on this interim configuration.
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“The interim Tactical Data Link will improve the Tiger’s situational awareness in the battlespace by improving the helicopter’s ability to receive in-flight tactical positioning of friendly and known enemy forces,” Senator Johnston said.
“Through this datalink, the Tigers will be able to share targeting information, coordinate battlefield movements and tactical objectives, and transmit real-time reconnaissance information between the aircraft and the land forces.”
Has IOC even been declared yet for the Tiger ARH fleet?
PHS
says:
Will it be based on Link16 / JTIDS to be compatible with RAAF (and RAN?).
Gordy
says:
Interesting, noting only 21 not 22? Is one already fitted? IOC has been declared I thought, but the logistic train needs more sorting out with Airbus. Improvement on this area will impact whether we start upgrading the aircraft per hot and dry performance and hour cost issues with the RTM engine.
Perhaps in comparison, if the AH-64D was picked originally, we would be having a similar problem from 2018 as the version will not be supported by the US Army thereon due to the next upgrade, the AH64E Guardian.
So ten years on, can we say that this was the right pick in all honesty per the manufacturer( of course not also referring to that “other” elephant in the room,.. the MRH-90, six years on)
One must learn from the way each supplier’s country performs on decision making as a guideline to supplier performance.
In simple terms: IE: Sikorsky and rebadged Eurocopter ala Airbus Helicopters: Performance in delivering the system.
iscover
Raymond
says:Has IOC even been declared yet for the Tiger ARH fleet?
PHS
says:Will it be based on Link16 / JTIDS to be compatible with RAAF (and RAN?).
Gordy
says:Interesting, noting only 21 not 22? Is one already fitted? IOC has been declared I thought, but the logistic train needs more sorting out with Airbus. Improvement on this area will impact whether we start upgrading the aircraft per hot and dry performance and hour cost issues with the RTM engine.
Perhaps in comparison, if the AH-64D was picked originally, we would be having a similar problem from 2018 as the version will not be supported by the US Army thereon due to the next upgrade, the AH64E Guardian.
So ten years on, can we say that this was the right pick in all honesty per the manufacturer( of course not also referring to that “other” elephant in the room,.. the MRH-90, six years on)
One must learn from the way each supplier’s country performs on decision making as a guideline to supplier performance.
In simple terms: IE: Sikorsky and rebadged Eurocopter ala Airbus Helicopters: Performance in delivering the system.