Trigat

Trigat, also known in its long-range form as PARS 3 LR, was developed to give attack helicopters a modern anti-armor weapon against tanks protected by composite and reactive armor. The program reflected European interest in a fire-and-forget missile that could be launched from behind cover and allow the helicopter to maneuver after firing. Its strongest association is with the German Tiger attack helicopter, although the wider Trigat family also included shorter-range concepts.

The long-range Trigat/PARS 3 LR concept centers on autonomous terminal guidance after launch, reducing the exposure time for the firing aircraft. Its tandem warhead is intended to defeat explosive reactive armor before the main shaped charge attacks the protected vehicle. Public descriptions commonly frame it as a several-kilometer anti-tank missile rather than a general-purpose rocket, with the sensor and warhead optimized for armored targets.

Operationally, Trigat/PARS 3 LR gives a helicopter crew a way to attack armor from standoff range while limiting time spent exposed to air defenses and return fire. Its fire-and-forget profile is especially valuable in terrain where the aircraft must pop up briefly, launch, and return to cover. The missile is therefore best understood as part of a dedicated attack-helicopter kill chain rather than as a broad infantry missile system.