Ukraine has withdrawn its request to acquire Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters from Australia, which is currently replacing them with AH-64E Apaches. The Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko told Defense Express about this.
Defense Express has learned from its own sources that the decision was made after taking into account a whole range of factors. These included the cost per flight hour, the availability of spare parts, the helicopters' technical condition, and questions regarding their expected configuration.
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In other words, although Australia was prepared to transfer Tiger helicopters, Ukraine decided it would be better to consider other options for strengthening its army aviation fleet. This decision makes sense when weighing the capabilities and needs.
Although the equipment is provided free of charge as part of military aid, it must continue to be operated, serviced, and maintained in a combat-ready condition. It is also necessary to train the pilots and technical personnel who will operate the helicopters.
Therefore, it makes sense to select helicopters that better meet the needs and capabilities of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. There is little point in having aircraft and equipment if they are simply going to sit idle at the base and be unable to carry out combat missions, which is why the selection process must be approached comprehensively.
In Australia, the Tiger helicopters are being phased out precisely because of their high operating costs and difficulties in maintaining operational readiness. Germany experienced similar problems with these helicopters, which were grounded for a period of time before the decision was made to phase them out.
News about a possible delivery of Eurocopter Tigers to Ukraine first emerged in early 2024, and in 2025 it was reported that the Australian government was evaluating the feasibility and advisability of the delivery. As we can see, the Ukrainian side ultimately decided to choose a different option.
As an alternative, the Ukrainian Army Aviation said in the summer of 2026 that it viewed the multi-purpose UH-60 Black Hawk as the backbone of its future fleet. In addition, the American company Bell established a subsidiary in Ukraine to offer its multi-purpose UH-1Y Venom and attack AH-1Z Viper helicopters, including the possibility of localized production.
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