The only evidence that HAP could use HOT are some images of prototypes (PT2 & PT4), which was done for display purposes. If you check the HAP flight manual, you can see that HOT is not among the authorised armaments. Neither is Stinger. I have other sources that back this up too, including a report done by some of the designers of the Tiger and reports by OCCAR.
So here’s how it is: either strict historical accuracy is adhered to in which case HOT and Stinger are removed from the Tiger HAP and HAD and the Mistral doesn’t get added to the UHT, OR; Some liberty is taken by the fact that they were armed on prototypes so the production version should also get them, which is what is done currently and only to the benefit of the French Tigers.
I’ll start with apologies for my bold talking about the HOT and Tigre program understanding. After verification with a friend who was super sure of himself about HOT in some documents, I thought he had additional documents talking about it, but unfortunatly we realised his memory just played himself a trick as we had the same HAP manual and there were no mention of HOT indeed. As for a potential bugreport for historical accuracy, even though we would make it I don’t think Gaijin would accept it as it would probably sink the sales of HAP as it would be the only premium helicopter to not have access to ATGM.
Also don’t put too much trust into those manuals as they are pretty old, I mean 1995 / 1997 for PAH-2 and 1996 for HAP, for an helicopter that entered service in the early 2000s, those manuals were edited when the program was still in the testing and prototypes phases. It doesn’t mean they are useless or bad, it’s just to stay cautious about those.
However you talked about other documents and interview about the progam, I’m interested, and I’m pretty sure other people in my community would be too.
So apparently Bell Flights is in the talks now with germany to move the production of the AH-1Z to germany. If i did read it right in the talks are up to 60 machines. Goal of it is that germany will continue to get production knowledge in the helicopter fields, additionaly international ordered vipers will be produced and shipped from germany as well.
What would your prefered alternatives to the Tiger be? The Apache, the Viper or maybe that coming italien helicopter?
LFK NG, was tested @WTD61. Was tested, so it could be in WT.
H145M with Eurospike ER2 … dunno I guess it could work @WT. Especially if this would have a lower BR than Attack Helis. There are also H145M with more launch tubes. Would be similar to Bo-105, just probably +0.7 higher Br’ed.
It has no AA capability, so even a biplane could go for it. It would be counterbalanced.
Also it would be probably similar to the Bo-105 helis. They somhow work exceptionally well in Ground Forces up to 10.0 BR. Small, nimble, small heat sig, powerful HOT ATGMs. I’ve got a better ground vehicle K/D than in Mi-24P and Tiger UHT.
I’m pretty sure the image of the Tiger with LFK-NG is photoshopped, this is the actual image:
And while the LFK-NG was tested, the only thing tested about it was its engines. The guidance and warhead were not complete before the project was canned, so I doubt it’s enough for Gaijin to add it.
I have no doubt the army probably wanted the AH-64, considering it’s good track record and the fact it’s operated by the Netherlands would present an opportunity for further cooperation. Though I have to imagine that a new anti-tank helicopter is fairly low on the priority list hence the decision to go for the budget option of the H145M. Add to this the uncertain future of the attack helicopter in general, this decision did not surprise me.
btw one of you guys watched the german military docu on helis?, i dont know what they smoked , but so many old or wrong information, they even said germany joined france and spain on the development of the next tiger https://youtu.be/uh8UROzy9GM?t=3291
