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General characteristics
Crew: Two: pilot and weapon systems officer
Length: 14.08 m fuselage (46 ft 2 in)
Rotor diameter: 13.00 m (42 ft 8 in)
Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)
Disc area: 133 m² (1,430 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,060 kg (6,750 lb)
Loaded weight: 5,090 kg (11,311 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 6,000 kg (13,000 lb))
Internal fuel capacity: 1,080 kg (2,380 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × MTU Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 turboshafts, 958 kW (1.303 shp) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 290 km/h with mast, 315 km/h without mast (157 knots, 181 mph with mast, 170 knots or 196 mph without mast)
Range: 800 km (430 nm, 500 mi) combat (with external tanks in the inboard stations: 1,300km)
Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 10.7 m/s (2,105 ft/min)
Power/mass: 0.23 hp/lb (0.38 kW/kg)
Armament
Guns:
1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GIAT 30 cannon in chin turret, with up to 450 rounds.
On each of its two inner hardpoints and two outer hardpoints the Eurocopter Tiger can carry a combination of the following weapons:
Inner hardpoints:
1x 20 mm (0.787 in) autocannon pods, or
22x 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod, or
19x 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets in a pod or
4x AGM-114 Hellfire missiles (Australia/France) or
4x Spike-ER missiles (Spain) or
4x PARS 3 LR missiles (Germany) or
4x HOT3 missiles (Germany)
Outer hardpoints:
2x Mistral air-to-air missiles, or
2x FIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles (Germany), or
12x 68 mm (2.68 in) SNEB unguided rockets in a pod or
7x 70 mm (2.75 in) Hydra 70 unguided rockets in a pod

Following a request for a battlefield helicopter issued by both France and Germany in 1984, the Eurocopter was selected in 1989 to produce five prototypes for such a helicopter. Serial production began in 2002, more than decade after the helicopter's first flight, and delivery of the first Tiger took place in September 2003.

Built for ground attack missions, the Tiger HAD’s turreted gun is one of the most accurate and lethal weapons of its type, thanks to the efficient fire control system. The gun is linked to both the roof- and the helmet-mounted sights, enabling quick and easy target acquisition.

Total ammunition capacity is 450 rounds, with a firing rate of 750 rounds per minute.

68 mm. or 70 mm. unguided rockets can be swapped in place of the other weapon types without changes to the helicopter’s fixed parts. Capacity is up to 68 for the 68 mm. rockets, and 52 for the 70 mm. rockets. Growth potential exists for laser-guided rockets.

The Hellfire laser-guided and Spike ER infrared or fiber optics-guided air-to-ground missiles are qualified on the Tiger HAD, with both capable of 8,000 m. ranges in self designation mode.

The body of the aircraft is composed from 80% carbon fibre reinforced polymer and Kevlar, 11% aluminium and 6% titanium, whereas the Tiger's rotors are made from fiber-plastic able to withstand bird strikes and combat damage.

The first active deployment of the Tigers came in July 2009, when three French Tigers arrived in Afghanistan tasked with performing armed reconnaissance and fire support missions to quell Taliban insurgency in the country.

After totalling more than 1,000 hours of operation in Afghanistan, French Tiger helicopters were used alongside British Apaches in Operation Unified Protector, enforcing a Nato-led no fly zone over Libya.

The Eurocopter Tiger made it's maiden flight back in 1991, while the first production helicopters were built in 2002. France ordered 70 Eurocopter Tiger HAP combat support helicopters and 10 HAC anti-armor variants. Germany ordered 80 UHT support helicopters.

The Eurocopter Tiger is has a conventional gunship helicopter layout, with two crew members sitting one behind another. Unlike the most combat helicopters pilot sits in the front, while the gunner takes the back seat.

The HAP combat support version has been designed especially for the French armed forces. It is intended for a close-range infantry support and has a limited air-to-air combat capability. The Tigre HAP is armed with a 30-mm cannon, unguided rocket pods and Mistral air-to-air missiles.

The French HAD version has many in common with the HAP, but uses an uprated engines and has a better ballistic protection. It can carry Trigat anti-tank fire-and-forget missiles.

The UHT, developed for the German Army, is a multi-role fire support helicopter. It carries Trigat or HOT anti-tank missiles, as well as the unguided rocket pods. The UHT may also carry up to four AIM 92 Stinger missiles for a close range air defense. This helicopter lacks the chin-mounted cannon, however can be fitted with a 12.7-mm podded machine guns. This version also uses more advanced search and tracking devices, than the French model.

One more version of the Eurocopter Tiger helicopter is operated by the Australian Army. Designated as the ARH or Armed Reconnaissance helicopter and based on the French HAP design.

All Tiger/Tigre helicopters are fitted with missile approach warning systems and decoy launchers.