Australia considers transferring Tiger attack helicopters to Ukraine

Australia is considering sending its retiring Airbus Tiger attack helicopters to Ukraine, according to a report from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on December 3, 2025.  

The discussions come as Canberra unveils a new A$95 million (US$64 million) military assistance package and additional sanctions targeting Russia. ABC reported that Ukraine has asked Australia to transfer some of its Tiger fleet as the Australian Army transitions to the Boeing AH-64E Apache. Any decision, according to ABC’s sources, would be handled separately from the newly announced financial assistance. 

Australia operates 22 Tiger helicopters, which entered service in the mid-2000s. The type is scheduled to retire in 2028, though ABC reported that the timeline could be accelerated as the Apache transition moves ahead. 

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The shift follows years of criticism over the Tiger’s low availability and high maintenance burden. In July 2019, the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group launched a request for information for a replacement, requiring the new aircraft to be proven, mature, and off the shelf. In January 2021, Defense Minister Linda Reynolds confirmed the acquisition of 29 AH-64E Apaches from 2025 at a cost of about AU$5.34 billion (US$3.5 billion), replacing the 22 Tigers. 

This transition mirrors earlier steps taken by Canberra to phase out the MRH-90 Taipan in favor of the Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk. In early 2024, Australia formally rejected Ukraine’s request for the Taipans, arguing the aircraft were not in flying condition and would require extensive and costly work to restore. Instead, the helicopters were dismantled, with parts earmarked for resale. 

New assistance package and fresh sanctions 

Reports on the potential helicopter transfer come on the same day Australia announced its first major increase in military aid to Ukraine in more than a year. The AU$95 million (US$64 million) package lifts Australia’s total military assistance to AU$1.7 billion (US$1.14 billion) since February 2022. 

The package includes AU$43 million (US$28.8 million) worth of Australian Defence Force equipment, including tactical air defense radars, munitions, and contributions to the Drone Capability Coalition. Australia and New Zealand will also become the first non-NATO contributors to NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List. 

The Australian government additionally imposed sanctions on 45 Russian ships identified as part of Russia’s so-called shadow fleet used to move oil and evade international restrictions. 

What the Tiger helicopters could offer Kyiv 

(Credit: Andrew Mercer / Wikimedia Commons)ABC reported that no final decision has been taken on whether to send Tigers to Ukraine. If Canberra approves the move, questions will remain about how quickly the aircraft could be refurbished, shipped, and integrated into Ukraine’s force structure. 

A transfer would provide Kyiv with a European-designed attack helicopter at a time when its rotary-wing fleet remains stretched and heavily reliant on older Soviet-era platforms. Even in limited numbers, the aircraft could support low-level strike missions, anti-armor engagements, and night operations that Ukraine conducts along the front, while their sensors and guided-weapon integration would add capabilities that Kyiv does not currently field at scale.  

Tigers equipped with rapid-fire cannon and guided rockets could also contribute to Ukraine’s expanding counter-drone fight, particularly against the slow, low-flying systems now shaping much of the frontline. The post Australia considers transferring Tiger attack helicopters to Ukraine appeared first on AeroTime.

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