Australia is reviewing Ukraine’s request to receive the Tiger ARH attack helicopters that are being decommissioned by the Australian Army as part of the transition to the new AH-64E Apache fleet. The information was reported by ABC News.
According to the publication, although Canberra is preparing a new military aid package for Ukraine, the potential transfer of the Tigers will be handled separately. Despite their retirement, the helicopters remain technically operational at least until 2040, and the manufacturer has even offered the Australian government the possibility of extending their service life.
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For Kyiv, the Tigers are highly relevant as an additional platform for counter-drone operations, especially in the face of Russia’s intensive use of Shahed UAVs. According to the Militarnyi portal, helicopters have been playing an increasingly important role in Ukraine’s air defense, destroying up to 40 percent of certain types of drones in interception zones.
Their main advantages include mobility, quick reaction time and the ability to operate at low altitudes, where ground-based air defense systems are less effective. Ukraine has already significantly expanded its use of helicopters in missions against drones, achieving strong results in night interceptions and maneuver operations.
In this context, the incorporation of the Tigers could further strengthen Ukraine’s aerial counter-UAV model, complementing both mobile and fixed air defense systems already in operation.
The final decision on sending the aircraft will rest with the Australian government, and Kyiv expects a response in the coming weeks.
Despite their tactical advantages, the Tiger ARH has a history of technical problems in Australia. According to Global Security, persistent software failures hindered technicians’ work for years. Maintenance was also affected by logistics, as essential parts came from Europe and often arrived late.
There were also recorded cases of failures in ventilation systems and power units, which caused toxic smoke to enter the cockpit. Some military personnel suffered intoxication after inhaling the black smoke released by faulty equipment.
The publication also highlights that the Australian Army experienced a long period before reaching full combat capability after the helicopters were introduced into the fleet.
Source: ABC News | Militarnyi. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
