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With the development of Airbus Helicopters’ H160M Guépard (Cheetah) intensifying, the OEM is on track to deliver its inaugural units to the French armed forces in 2028. Airbus is also proclaiming the ongoing flight-test campaign to be “a very good start for the military.”
Speaking at a pre-Verticon press briefing in Marignane, H160 program head Benoit Klein explained that Airbus is “very happy about the behavior of the aircraft.” The first prototype—which surpassed 72 flight hours as of late February—has already conducted a “mini cold campaign” in the French Alps, as well as testing the type’s electromagnetic capability in proximity to French naval vessels.
Preparation will begin next month for an airborne firing campaign at Cazaux air base, set to take place in the third quarter. This will look to validate the aircraft’s aerodynamic stability when deploying rockets and guns.
“In terms of missiles, we are ready now, [but] we need to demonstrate the flying stability of the aircraft a little bit more,” offered Klein. The H160M’s weapons package will include door- and pod-mounted machine guns, as well as guided missiles.
The flying campaign soon will be augmented with a second prototype, while a third unit—currently under construction at Airbus’ Donauwörth, Germany facility—will take a purely naval configuration. In July, Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even said the company had received “excellent feedback from the French Navy on the performance of their six H160s, which have proven themselves with a high availability rate” during two years of search-and-rescue missions at sea. This fleet has now surpassed 5,000 flight hours.
In December 2021, the French ministry for the armed forces (Ministère des Armées) announced that it was looking to place an order for 169 H160Ms under the Light Joint Helicopter program, with the French directorate general of armament signing for an initial batch of 30. These will replace five aging helicopter types currently in service or recently retired.