Bundeswehr's only fully-fledged attack helicopter is set to end in 2032. Tiger attack helicopters have had to endure a lot of criticism in the past.
But in Fritzlar, people appreciate the tiger, know its qualities - and would like to keep it longer. Commander of the 36th Combat Helicopter Regiment, Colonel Sönke Schmuck, hopes that the decision to retire the Tiger will be reconsidered. The more options you have for action, the better positioned you are to face the current challenge, he says. However, he does not believe that unmanned drones will take off from the Fritzlar airfield in the near future. The H145M light attack helicopter has modern sensors and communication technology and can also work with unmanned drones, he adds. The German army has 13 tigers ready for action and are part of the NATO spearhead, says the commander of the36th Combat helicopter regiment, Colonel Sönke Schmuck. The French, who also use the Tiger, have found that the cell can also be used beyond this time - until 2040.