MADRID, July 31 (UPI) -- Eurocopter said its first Tiger combat helicopter assembled in Spain has performed its maiden flight and will be delivered to the Spanish Army later this year.
The helicopter is the E variant of theTiger HAD, a twin-engine attack aircraft with a maximum speed of about 196 miles per hour with mast and a range of 500 miles.
"This is an important achievement for both the Tiger program and for Eurocopter Spain," said Juan Luis Cordero, the Eurocopter Tiger program manager in Spain. "The assembly of this helicopter was made possible thanks to a significant investment in both industrial and human resources and also to the close coordination with other entities in the group."
The first prototype HAD/E was assembled at Eurocopter's Marignane, France facilities, which has been performing the certification and qualification flight campaign in Spain since 2010.
The Spanish Army currently flies six Tiger HAP/E variants.
The defense ministries of Spain, France and Germany collaborate with industry of the Tiger program.
