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Airbus Starts H160M Helicopter Flight Tests
By: Charles Alcock
Caption: French armed forces are set to receive 169 H160M Guépard rotorcraft, starting in 2028
Word Count: 393
Airbus has started flight testing the military version of its H160 helicopter that is due to enter service with the French armed forces in 2028. On Thursday, the company announced that the H160M Guépard prototype made its first flight at its Marignane facility, where the second example is now in final assembly.
As part of France’s Joint Light Helicopter program, the H160M is being developed to replace five helicopter types for the army, navy, and air and space forces. The French Ministry of Armed Forces has committed to buying 169 of the twin-engine rotorcraft, which is a variant of the in-service civil H160.
Three prototypes will be used for flight testing. Airbus said the first aircraft will primarily be used for validating flight performance and, starting next year, conducting firing campaigns. The second prototype will be deployed for hot and cold weather campaigns, among other tests.
Powered by a pair of Safran Arrano turboshafts, the H160M is designed to carry up to 12 troops with a range of up to 395 nm. Featured in the flight deck is Thales’ FlytX avionics suite, developed to support complex military missions in difficult operating environments.
Cooperation with Drones
According to Airbus, this is the first of its helicopters with a drone cooperation system as standard equipment to support joint missions with uncrewed platforms. It also features Safran’s Euroflir 410 electro-optical system, the Thales AirMaster C radar, and Astronautics’ AeroSync Max wireless airborne communications system.
Through integration with Airbus’ HForce weapons system, the H160M Guépard (Cheetah) can be equipped with 12.7 mm machine guns in pods and guided rockets. It could also be equipped with 7.62-mm machine guns in a pintle mount or an articulated arm to be used by a precision shooter.
For the past two years, the French Navy has been using six H160 helicopters for search-and-rescue missions, and, according to Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even, the manufacturer has received “excellent feedback” from this deployment for “outstanding performance and reliability levels” in demanding conditions.
“The H160M is an aircraft tailored for tomorrow’s military operations: reliable, agile, highly connected and equipped with the latest generation of sensors and weaponry,” he said. “Most importantly, it is highly scalable and can adapt to changing operational contexts.”