Australia might finally give its retired Tiger ARH attack helicopters the thing they never really got Down Under: a real war to fight.
In this video, I break down why Australia is in talks to send its entire fleet of 22 Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopters to Ukraine, how the deal could work, and whether these famously temperamental birds can actually survive in the most drone-saturated battlefield on Earth.
These Tigers have had a rough life: expensive to maintain, plagued with readiness issues, and roasted so thoroughly in the Australian press they probably qualify as charcoal. But don’t let the memes fool you. When the Tiger works, it works. Advanced sensors, laser designators, Hellfire missiles, 70mm rockets, a 30mm cannon, and agility that makes heavier attack helos jealous.
I walk through everything that matters:
• Why Ukraine wants these helicopters despite their maintenance history
• How France and Germany could supply the spare parts Australia no longer wants to pay for
• Why even 8–10 flyable Tigers would be a meaningful combat boost for Ukraine
• How the Tiger compares to the Apache, Hind, and AH-1Z Viper
• Whether attack helicopters can actually survive in an era of FPV drones and loitering munitions
• The training and logistics challenges Ukraine would face
• And why timing matters: the European Tiger training hub closes in 2028
Australia has already delivered Bushmasters, artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and even 49 Abrams tanks. Sending the Tigers would make this one of Canberra’s most consequential aid packages ever. And honestly? It beats burying them in a landfill like the MRH90 Taipans.
I also talk frankly about doctrine. Helicopters are vulnerable, yes. But Ukraine has shown there’s still a role for fast, low-altitude pop-up attacks, air-launched effects, rapid-response firepower, and precision Hellfire engagements from standoff distances. With updated tactics, the Tiger could become a flexible hunter-killer platform in ways Australia never explored.
If the transfer happens, this will be a defining chapter for a helicopter Australia never quite knew what to do with, and a meaningful reinforcement for Ukraine at a critical moment in the war.
Let me know in the comments: should Australia send the Tigers to Ukraine? Or leave them to rust in the Outback?
