Story ID: 
Rotocraft Update: Hold that Tiger
By: Bill Wagstaff
Caption: Just weeks after proclaiming its market dominance at HAI’s Heli-Expo 2002, Eurocopter took a hit in its sales column with the news that France and Germany 
Word Count: 134
Just weeks after proclaiming its market dominance at HAI’s Heli-Expo 2002, Eurocopter took a hit in its sales column with the news that France and Germany have each decided to buy a smaller number of Eurocopter-built Tiger attack helicopters than had been previously announced. The news came in the form of an interview with Eurocopter chairman Jean-Francois Bigay published in Jane’s Defence Weekly, in which Bigay said he was told to expect a total acquisition of about 120 Tigers by the two governments. France and Germany had earlier planned to buy 215 and 212 of the aircraft, respectively. Both Germany and France placed initial orders for 80 Tigers each in 1999. The first deliveries to the German army are to be made by the end of the year. The French are expected to receive theirs starting next year.