The Australian Army's Eurocopter Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter)- The Australian Army has retired all but 4 of its remaining Airbus Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters from active service. Now focusing on AH-64E Apaches

After a final flyover of Darwin on 24 September 2026, the Australian Army has stricken its remaining Airbus Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopters from active service.

Just a single troop of Tigers – believed to be four helicopters – was still flying in Darwin with the 1st Aviation Regiment. However, that regiment is now focused on inducting 29 Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters.

Major General David Hafner, Commander Army Aviation, noted, “Our soldiers, aircrew and maintainers have achieved an extraordinary transition from the ARH Tiger to the Apache, while continuing to deliver training and operational outputs.”

A fleet of 22 Tigers was ordered under Project Air 87 in December 2001, and they entered Australian service in 2004. Eighteen aircraft were assembled in Australia.

The Tiger was an important step up for the army, since it took over the roles hitherto performed by the OH-58 Kiowa and an armed UH-1 Iroquois known as the Bushranger.

However, like the MRH90 from NHIndustries, the Tiger drew stern criticism from the Australian military. Its final operational clearance was granted on 14 April 2016, seven years behind schedule. Sustainment price tags and costs per flying hour were far greater than expected, whilst availability rates were lower than hoped.

The Department of Defence noted in a press statement about Australia’s “need to operate in an evolving threat environment, where advanced air defence systems, precision weapons and uncrewed platforms present challenges better suited to the capabilities of next-generation battlefield helicopters such as the AH-64E Apache”.

Heffner added, “The end of ARH Tiger flying operations is a significant moment for the 1st Aviation Regiment, but it also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter as we continue our relocation to Townsville and further build Australia’s attack helicopter capability around the AH-64E Apache.”

Aussie Apaches performed their first live-fire iterations on home soil during Exercise Possum Guns in July this year. To date, six AH-64Es have been delivered, with all 29 due to be handed over by the end of 2029.

Townsville-based 161 Reconnaissance Squadron now operates the Apache, while 162 Reconnaissance Squadron in Darwin can now begin to do so after relinquishing its Tigers. The split location between Darwin and Townsville meant two operational support squadrons existed, but these can merge with the Tigers retiring. The commanding officer believes the relocation to Townsville should be complete by the end of 2027.

Perrins assessed, “The Tiger was an outstanding attack platform, but it also just set the conditions for us for an easy transition to Apache. So, every time I’m out with the teams – whether it’s maintenance, ground crew or aircrew – they’ve all made the step reasonably easily, and the crews have transitioned fairly well.”

What is the fate of Australia’s 22 Tigers then? No official announcement has been made, but Ukraine is interested in them. Certainly, that would be more sensible than simply scrapping or burying them alongside Australia’s unwanted MRH90s.

Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, said last year about the possibility of receiving Tigers: “We’d be interested in having that conversation … And if those could be provided to Ukraine, we’ll be thankful.”

Article from - Asian Military Review.

All about the tiger-

The Australian Army's Eurocopter Tiger ARH (Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter) is a specialized, two-seat variant of the European Tiger optimized for armed reconnaissance, close air support, and command coordination.

-Specs-

• Crew: 2 (pilot and weapon systems officer)

• Fuselage Length: 14.08 m (46 ft 2 in)

• Overall Length: 15.08 m (51 ft 10 in) (rotor to tail)

• Height: 3.83 m (12 ft 7 in)

• Main Rotor Diameter: 13.0 m (42 ft 8 in)

• Empty Weight: 3,060 kg (6,746 lb)

• Max Takeoff Weight: 6,000–6,600 kg (approx. 13,225–14,551 lb)

• Powerplant: 2 × MTR390 turboshaft engines

-Performance-

• Maximum Speed: 315 km/h (196 mph)

• Cruise Speed: Approx. 278 km/h (173 mph)

• Combat Range: 800 km (497 mi)

• Ferry Range: 1,300 km (808 mi) with external fuel

• Endurance: Nearly 3 hours standard mission time

• Service Ceiling: 4,000 m (13,120 ft)

-Armament & Sensors-

• Cannon: 1 × 30 mm GIAT 30 chin-mounted automatic cannon (750 rounds)

• Missiles & Rockets:

• Up to 8 × AGM-114 Hellfire II anti-armor missiles

• Air-to-air missiles (such as Mistral)

• 70 mm unguided rocket pods (FZ pods)

-Avionics & Sensors: Roof-mounted sight (RMS) multi-target tracking system, helmet-mounted sight and displays for both crew members, and advanced thermal/TV day-night optics with a laser rangefinder/designator. (Note: The ARH variant lacks an active fire-control radar).

Haven’t been long in enough to know the full history but I know that both were a hassle to get spare parts so why would we get these knowing the problems?

How are people getting payouts from DVA for PI and IL but still remaining in service? I even know people who got out and joined the Police and Firies. If you've been assessed as having an injury bad enough to warrant a claim then doesn't that make you medically unfit to pursue those sorts of roles?

Not trying to have a whinge but thought this one’s a bit silly. Would love to hear people’s thoughts and potential workarounds? Took me about a month to get my car when I posted remote a few years ago, now I’m heading back down south and my toll rep informed me that Defence no longer provides this entitlement as of early July 2026 (used to be 6.5A.14 which has magically been removed from PACMAN). I’ll be moving from the NT, so anyone that’s been up here knows what HRWS is like + added benefit of an unknown fuel situation by end of November. I’ve got a fuel guzzler so that doesn’t help either.

It’s all good and jolly to send my car down early but I still need to work, how is that possible without a car if there’s an expectation I’m there? Same could be said about the gaining loc, how am I supposed to find a property, attend inspections, move into a place, get food etc. Either way I’ll be without a car for potentially 4+ weeks going off experience.

I don’t know maybe I’m just being a sook but I’m pretty bloody annoyed.

Hey guys, after some advice around pack marching / weight.

I’ve done plenty of pack marches at 25kg and never had a problem. But recently I upped the weight to 30kg and did a 6km stomp. Not a long stomp by any means, and I’ve done further with the 25kg with no problems.

But on this stomp, I want to say for the last fourth of the way, I started getting a pain at the top of my spine. Not the sort of muscle discomfort you’d normally expect, but in the actual spine. Once I finished and took the weight off, there was a momentary sharp increase in the pain for a second or two then it subsided. And just had a bit of soreness for the rest of the day.

Obviously no one here can say for certain as they weren’t there. But are there any common mistakes that you guys know that could be the cause of this? Or has anyone experienced the same sensation?

I get that I’m not used to 30kg yet, but that seems like something that shouldn’t happen from just a 5kg increase in what I’m used to.

I had my sleeping gear in the bottom compartment in a dry bag, my DP1 in the main compartment also in a dry bag as well as my day bag in the main compartment.

I’ve also got the pack quite compact, so an overall small, compact pack. Any input is appreciated, thanks.

I have a love hate with my medals and for a long time refused to have them in the house with me. I now have them back from storage ( I will never wear them) but I would like to preserve them for my kids if they want them. What’s the best way to get the green tarnish off of them without damaging them?

I was going to post this the other day but decided against it, however seeing u/SerpentineLogic post it made me think some discussion could be healthy.

So the size of the ADF 25 years ago was approx 51,700. You have to go back to about 1994 for it to be ‘higher’ than now. So weird that Gov decided to say we’re the largest we’ve been in 25 years.

I have a bit of a problem with them including reservists AND Gap Ye*r kids (for some reason can’t say those two words as it thinks I’m asking a recruitment Q). Let alone the fact we seem to be growing the less operational roles, our numbers are dire in many critical areas. But whatever.

My biggest problem is the fallacy that we are growing at all.

As mentioned, in 2001 we had 51,700 in defence. Australia had a population at the time of 19.7 million. This equates to 0.27% of the population. The labour force was just under 9 million. We equated to 0.64% of the workforce.

In 2026 we have 64,000 but our population is nearing 28 million (27.8 million in Dec 25 according to ABS). That’s 0.23% of the population in Defence. The labour force is 15.5 million, we equate to 0.413% of the workforce. We are now comparatively a smaller footprint.

We aim to grow to 69,000 for ‘the early 2030s’. This has been changed from the 2030 goal and when looking at the documents includes 2034, I’d personally consider that mid 2030s but alas. ABS expect our population to grow to 30 million for 2029/30. So we maintain 0.23% of the population if we reach the target in the next few years. It’ll be 0.44% of the workforce (15.66 million labour force). If we meet the target for 2034 we’ll be at 0.42% of the workforce.

Apologies for ism speel. I find it rather frustrating that we tout we are growing when our comparative percentage of the Australian population has fallen and will plateau at best.

Am I missing something obvious or is this just the usual political spin.

I’m obviously not talking about our capabilities or lethality, which are undoubtedly growing.

Keen to discuss if anyone has opinions one way or the other. Possible I’m the only person that cares about such a pedantic point!

Also, god it’s frustrating typing on this app, lost half of all that from trying to select something.

I'm pretty open and honest about being a user of mental health services, both here and with the people in my life. I was discharged from the ADF a few years ago due to a misdiagnosis of bipolar; it's now known to be PTSD due to a mix of traumas from my childhood, the Army, and working as a nurse in the adolescent mental health system (boy, that was a mistake).

Gently correcting some well-meaning civvies about the supports available got me thinking about how the system is much better than the average person thinks it is... but I suspect is also getting quietly and steadily trimmed back, now that the heat from the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide has died down.

DVA White Card

This bad boy paid for everything. It paid for private hospital admissions, drug subdisides, my psychiatrists, psychologists through Open Arms, etc. They do not ask questions, they do need to link your injury to your Defence service, or make you sign periodic forms to declare it - the baseline card is accepted for mental health conditions.

There is a social worker who thinks I have an excellent chance of getting my discharge restrospectively modified to recognise my PTSD and link it to my service so I can get the Gold Card instead, but the thought of doing that is too anxiety-provoking.

Ward 17 (Austin Health PTRS)

This is the only public inpatient PTSD unit in Australia. It has saved countless lives, and you'll never see an inpatient unit like it (even in the private system - big open grassy courtyards, you can come and go please, don't have to charge your shit in the nurse's station, and people don't shine flashlights at you overnight or suddenly open your door or any of that shit). I've been in 4 times, and the staff there have known my daughter since she was a baby

Although it's technically a public unit:

• It only exists because it was built with immense support and funding from the RSLs back in the day, and it currently benefits from support from veteran and emergency service support groups
• You need some sort of external funding from the outside to pay for it - so either a DVA Card, WorkCover, TAC, etc
• Essentially, the VIC state government chips in very very little to maintain this service. The other state governments do not even bother running their own, their fuckers
• There's always a waiting list to get in. The shortest I had was 2 weeks simply because someone dropped out, I usually get quoted a month, and last time it was 8 weeks

Open Arms

I got my psychiatrist and therapist referrals through them not long after the RC, when there was a huge injection of funding. Things were virtually instantaneous - I'd call for an inquiry, and unexpectedly have my intake done and both referrals sorted out in the next phone call. When I called the therapist I was linked in with, I was jumped to the front of the queue, as an Open Arms client.

Fast forward a year or so. My new trauma therapist advises me they're starting to get cull people at the Open Arms office, and a new policy means that people will be dropped as Open Arms clients if they miss a certain number of sessions in a row. My wife, who is also seeing Open Arms as the partner of a veteran, is dropped as a new policy restricts partners to a certain number of sessions a year and obliges them to put in a new referral afterwards. Eventually I too am dropped - my fault I suppose, but the clinician in me would expect this in a population group with high rates of depression and amotivation.

Two years after that, I get out of my lastest hospital admission, and call Open Arms to get linked in with a new therapist. This time, you have to wait for an intake call back days later, then weeks after that to get linked in with someone. The same strict rules apply, and now you only have a limited amount of sessions a year (not strictly capped, but the therapist has to formally request further ones from higher up)

Private hospitals

I've been admitted to one, and worked in a few. Some of them have units specific to trauma, alcohol and other drugs, or other specialties that may be relevant to veterans. The DVA White Card will get you into any of them, provided one of the psychiatrists who periodically work there are willing to take you on (in general, they don't like patients who are "too acute").

They are generally rather comfortable and have good group programs, though the nursing support can be a bit spotty due to the nature of the private system - 8:1 nursing ratios (compared to a max of 5:1 in public) means you will often get a brief check-in at best.

Public psychiatric units

I work in these for a living. They are not designed, laid out, or optimised to care for people with a lived experience of trauma. The most common patient cohort (i.e., mostly experiencing issues such as psychosis and mania), although absolutely worthy of compassion, are best off being cared for in a different space.

The thought of surviving a suicide attempt and ending up stuck in one of these units for a few weeks, with unpredictable codes being called, the occasional scream, and having to go up to the nurse's station just to get my phone charged, has kept me from jumping off the edge a few times. Unfortunately, because there are no public trauma inpatient services, either these or private hospitals are your only choice of getting help in crisis.

A man who allegedly unlawfully entered an Australian Defence Force (ADF) base in the Northern Territory, assaulted a defence force member and stole a car is still on the run from police.

In a statement a defence spokesperson said the incident occurred at RAAF Base Darwin yesterday afternoon and "lockdown procedures and protocols were implemented". 

They said RAAF Darwin security, the Joint Military Police Unit, Northern Territory Police and Australian Federal Police attended the incident.

A Northern Territory Police spokesperson confirmed officers responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in Winnellie about 4:30pm yesterday.

The spokesperson said officers pursued the car after it was spotted travelling southbound on the Stuart Highway, but eventually lost sight of the vehicle.

They said a manhunt was underway for up to three people allegedly seen taking a stolen ADF security vehicle for a joy-ride across the Top End and the ute was seen driving "erratically" near a Coolalinga petrol station about 4:20am, with multiple people in the back.

A Zuccoli tradie, who asked to remain anonymous, told the ABC he believed the same alleged car thief had ransacked his work ute at about 4am — almost 12 hours after it was stolen.

He said CCTV footage from a neighbour's camera showed a man stealing up to $3,500 worth of tools while another person lay in the ute's tray.

"It's piss-poor that this can happen on a huge base that easy," he said.

"It opens up a lot of questions.

"[The cars] should have trackers on them."

Upgrades to 'enhance security'

The security breach comes halfway through major upgrades to the base, worth almost $160 million.

In May 2025, a Department of Defence spokesperson wrote in a statement, the improvements were designed to "enhance security, community safety and resilience" by installing a new "high-capacity" main entrance.

"The upgrades will improve the base's ability to support the significant number of personnel, aircraft and support elements that operate from RAAF Base Darwin during major activities and exercises," they said at the time.

Construction is expected to be completed by mid-2027.

The base is undergoing a $160 million upgrade, with enhanced security one of the aims.(ABC News: Michael Donnelly)

This week's incident is the second on the base in recent weeks, with a lockdown triggered by a training exercise early last month.

More than half a dozen military and civilian police cars swarmed the base in Winnellie about 9pm on August 4 following reports of a security incident.

Eyewitnesses said the alarm lasted for about an hour, with the word "lockdown" repeatedly broadcast in an automated message.

In a statement at the time, the Australian Defence Force said the lockdown was the result of "military personnel conducting training with specialist equipment" and it was resolved within half an hour.

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