THE HOME OF THE TIGER
Combat Helicopter Regiment 36
Inside Combat Helicopter Regiment 36
Few military aviation units are as exclusive as Germany’s Combat Helicopter Regiment 36. Operating the Eurocopter Tiger, the regiment combines advanced technology, demanding training and highly specialised crews to maintain one of Europe’s most capable attack helicopter forces.
This feature takes you behind the scenes of daily operations, introducing the people, aircraft and procedures that define life inside a modern combat helicopter unit. From the flight line to mission preparation, discover the professionalism required to operate one of the world’s most sophisticated attack helicopters.
Location
Fritzlar Air Base, Germany
Aircraft
Airbus Helicopters EC665 Tiger KHT
Operator
Combat Helicopter Regiment 36 (Bundeswehr)
Photographer
Robert Kysela
At Fritzlar, every sortie begins long before the rotors start turning. Aircraft, ground crews and support vehicles move in carefully coordinated sequence, preparing Germany’s only combat helicopter regiment for the day’s missions.
Preparing the Tiger
Before every mission, the flight line becomes a carefully coordinated workplace. Engineers inspect every system, crews complete their walk-around checks and pilots review mission data before climbing into the cockpit. Every detail is verified long before the engines are started.
Operating the Tiger demands absolute precision. From avionics and weapons systems to rotor assemblies and powerplant inspections, every aircraft must meet the highest standards before leaving the ground. Behind every successful sortie stands a team whose work often remains unseen.
Airbus Helicopters EC665 Tiger KHT
Combat Helicopter Regiment 36 – Fritzlar Air Base, Germany
© Robert Kysela
Airbus Helicopters EC665 Tiger KHT
Combat Helicopter Regiment 36 – Fritzlar Air Base, Germany
© Robert Kysela
Mission Ready
Inside the Tiger’s tandem cockpit, technology and human judgement come together. Pilot and Weapon System Officer (WSO) share responsibility for flying the aircraft, managing its sensors and maintaining awareness of an operational environment that can change within seconds.
Preparation is therefore as important as flying skill. Mission data, navigation, communications and aircraft systems must be understood before the helicopter leaves the ground. Once airborne, both crew members work as a tightly coordinated team, combining precise aircraft handling with the tactical awareness required to complete the mission safely.
Airbus Helicopters EC665 Tiger KHT
Combat Helicopter Regiment 36 – Fritzlar Air Base, Germany
© Robert Kysela
Into the Low Level
Terrain is one of the Tiger’s greatest allies. Flying close to the ground allows the helicopter to remain concealed behind ridgelines, forests and natural obstacles while reducing exposure to enemy observation and radar.
Rather than relying on speed alone, combat helicopter crews exploit terrain, timing and precision to approach their objective unnoticed. Every change in altitude, every turn and every brief appearance above the landscape is carefully calculated. Low-level flight is not about spectacle – it is a fundamental element of battlefield survivability.
Keeping the Tiger Flying
Every flight begins and ends in the maintenance hangar. Long before a Tiger takes to the air, technicians inspect its airframe, engines, rotor system and mission equipment, ensuring that every component performs exactly as intended.
Maintaining a modern combat helicopter demands exceptional technical expertise and meticulous attention to detail. Routine servicing, scheduled inspections and fault diagnosis are all essential parts of keeping the fleet operational. Behind every successful mission stands a team of specialists whose professionalism ensures that the Tiger remains ready whenever it is called upon.
Airbus Helicopters EC665 Tiger KHT
Maintenance crews preparing a Tiger for its next mission – Combat Helicopter Regiment 36, Fritzlar Air Base, Germany
© Robert Kysela
Airbus Helicopters EC665 Tiger KHT
Combat Helicopter Regiment 36 – Fritzlar Air Base, Germany
© Robert Kysela
Experience the Full Story
Discover the complete Combat Helicopter Regiment 36 feature with exclusive photography, behind-the-scenes insights and in-depth reporting from inside Germany’s premier Tiger unit. Experience the people, aircraft and operations that bring one of Europe’s most capable attack helicopter regiments to life.