Airbus begins flight testing H160M military variant

H160M helicopter | Photo: Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters announced on Thursday it had begun flight-testing the militarised version of the H160 helicopter called the H160M Guépard. The company said in a statement the variant is being developed for the French Armed Forces as part of the ‘Joint Light Helicopter’ program.

CEO of Airbus Helicopters, Bruno Even, said in the statement, “The start of the flight test campaign is a major milestone for the H160M programme. We have received excellent feedback from the French Navy on the performance of their six H160s, which have proven themselves with a high availability rate. Deployed for over two years on search and rescue missions at sea, these aircraft have demonstrated outstanding performance and reliability levels in a demanding environment.”

The new military version of the helicopter is intended to equip all three services of the French armed forces, with ‘plans to order 169 H160Ms to replace five types of helicopters currently in service’ ‘or recently retired,’ according to the company.

Airbus is planning to build three prototypes of the H160M with the first for ‘validating the H160M’s flight performance and will conduct firing campaigns in 2026,’ and the second, which is ‘currently in final assembly,’ for ‘for hot and cold weather campaigns.’

The military helicopter is equipped with ‘Thales’ FlytX avionics and a unique mission system developed by Airbus,’ in addition to a native ‘drone cooperation system, sensors including ‘Safran’s Euroflir 410 electro-optical system and Thales’ AirMaster C radar,’ with a self-protection system ‘designed to operate across the entire electromagnetic and optical spectrum with automatic threat decoy capabilities.’

The Airbus HForce weapon system ‘allows for the integration of a wide range of effectors’ configuring the H160M with ‘12.7 mm machine guns in pods and guided rockets,’ in addition to ‘7.62 mm machine guns in a pintle mount or an articulated arm for a precision shooter.’

The H160 is a 6-tonne class aircraft powered by Safran Arrano engines that has been in service for over three years. Airbus plans to begin delivering the H160M to the French Armed Forces in late 2028.

The flight test crew for the maiden flight of the H160M helicopter consisted of Samuel Chartier, H160M flight test pilot, and flight test engineers Nicolas Certain, Laurent Maruejols and Alban Corpron, according to the company.