Free Republic

Israeli Spike snares Tiger By Arie Egozi in Tel Aviv The Spanish army is to equip its Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters with Rafael’s Spike-ER anti-armour missile, with the French army also evaluating the weapon for its production aircraft. Eurocopter has already partially integrated the Spike weapon system on the Tiger using initial funds from Spain, with this work culminating with four test launches of the 8km (5 mile)-range weapon. A full contract is now expected to be placed by year-end to arm Spain’s future fleet of 24 Tigers. Spain has already decided to purchase the ground-launched LR version of the...

Defence to spend $2b more on choppers Mark Metherell June 19, 2006 AUSTRALIA will buy almost four times as many military helicopters as previously ordered, at an extra cost of $2 billion. The Defence Minister, Brendan Nelson, is expected to announce today that the Australian Defence Force will add 34 of the European MRH-90 multi-role helicopters to the 12 on order. The decision follows protracted problems with helicopters in the Defence Force, highlighted by the Sea King crash in Indonesia last year in which nine Australian military personnel were killed. The crash prompted the disclosure of poor maintenance standards for...