Flight tests of the Airbus H160M Guépard for the French military

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Airbus Helicopters begins flight tests with the H160M Guépard

Airbus Helicopters has begun flight testing of the H160M Guépard. This military version of the H160 is being developed for the French armed forces as part of the Joint Light Helicopter program. The test pilots are Samuel Chartier, H160M flight test pilot, and flight test engineers Nicolas Certain, Laurent Maruejols, and Alban Corpron. The maiden flight of the H160M was celebrated at an official ceremony at the company’s headquarters in France.

Uniform operational helicopter concept for all branches of the armed forces

The H160M has been selected by France as a unified platform to equip all three branches of the armed forces—the Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force. The French Ministry of Defense plans to order a total of 169 H160Ms to replace five helicopter types currently in use or recently retired.

Further development of a proven civil helicopter

The military H160M is based on the civilian H160 platform, which has been in service for over three years. The French armed forces dubbed the model “Guépard.” It features extensive innovations that make it one of the most modern military helicopters in the world. Airbus is using three prototypes in development to accelerate testing. A second prototype is currently in final assembly.

The first prototype will primarily serve to validate flight characteristics and will also conduct weapons tests starting in 2026. The second prototype will be used, among other things, for climate testing under extreme temperatures.

Quote from Bruno Even, CEO Airbus Helicopters

“The start of the flight test campaign represents an important milestone for the program. We have received excellent feedback from the French Navy regarding its six deployed H160s; they flew over two years of high-availability search and rescue missions at sea, demonstrating outstanding performance and reliability in a demanding environment,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters.

“The H160M is specifically designed for future military missions: reliable, maneuverable, highly networked, and equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and weapons. Above all, it is scalable and can adapt flexibly to changing operational conditions.”

Technical features of the H160 / H160M

The basic civilian version of the H160 belongs to the six-ton helicopter class and is equipped with Safran’s Arrano engines. A total of 68 patents have been filed to significantly improve efficiency, safety, environmental compatibility, and ease of maintenance compared to previous models. The military variant features a FlytX avionics system from Thales and a unique mission system from Airbus itself. These systems enable complex operations even under disrupted conditions with perfect tactical situational awareness. Numerous communication systems ensure the helicopter can be seamlessly integrated into air, sea, and land operations.

H160M Guépard: Innovations in sensors and self-protection

The H160M is the first model in Airbus’s helicopter portfolio to feature a drone cooperation system as standard – a critical capability in the modern battlefield. It also incorporates new sensor generations, such as the Euroflir 410 electro-optical system from Safran and the AirMaster C radar from Thales. The self-protection system covers the entire electromagnetic and optical spectral range and offers automatic decoy functions against all types of threats.

Armament concept with modular weapon system “HForce”

Thanks to Airbus’ own weapon integration system “HForce”, a wide range of effectors can be mounted:

• Pylons for machine guns caliber 12.7 mm
• Guided missiles
• Pintle-mounted machine guns caliber 7.62 mm
• Mounting options for precision shooters via movable mount

This versatility allows adaptation to different operational scenarios such as combat support or reconnaissance with firepower backup.

Schedule Delivery & Support

Delivery of the first units to the French armed forces is planned for the end of 2028. Airbus Helicopters will also provide maintenance, including overhaul, and operational support for an initial period of ten years after delivery. This step marks a significant advance in France’s Joint Light Helicopter Program toward a modern fleet of capable combat and support helicopters based on a single modular design.