In December 2021, the European company Airbus Helicopters announced the signing of a contract with the General Directorate of Armaments (DGA) of France for the development and purchase of H160M helicopters. The document was signed as part of the implementation of the light helicopter program (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger, HIL) for the French Armed Forces.
The contract includes the development of several prototypes and the delivery of the first series of 30 vehicles, of which 21 helicopters are intended for the Ground Forces, eight for the Navy and one for the French Air Force. According to sources, Paris plans to purchase a total of 169 helicopters of the H160M model, or "Cheetah" (Guépard), as it is called in the French army. The start of deliveries, initially for the Ground Forces of the French Armed Forces, is scheduled for 2027.
The military version of the H160M helicopter is based on its civilian version. The H160 is a new generation twin-engine helicopter in the 6-ton class, equipped with two Safran Arrano engines (each with a constant power of 738 kW / 1003 hp). The modular design of the aircraft allows the use of specialized equipment, for example, for maritime transport, private and business aviation, emergency medical care and public services.
A little earlier, the profile media announced that a similar modular military version of the H160M "Cheetah" should replace five types of helicopters of the French Armed Forces: Gazelle in the CB; Alouette III, Dauphin and Panther in the Navy; Fennec in the Air Force. Moreover, some of them have been in operation for several decades. The signed contract, according to the same sources, will ensure the supply of 80 helicopters for the SV, 49 for the Navy and 40 for the Air Force of the French Republic.
The tasks of army aviation include armed reconnaissance, fire support, withdrawal of MTR units and evacuation of injured personnel. The Navy wants to use its helicopters to fight enemy ships, reconnaissance and rescue operations. The options for using the N160M by the Air Force are the protection of airspace, search and rescue operations, reconnaissance missions and penetration into the depths of areas occupied by the enemy.
The contract for preliminary development with Airbus Helicopters and Safran Helicopter Engines was signed in December 2019. It includes adaptation to the requirements of the military cockpit, avionics (Thales FlytX), sensor (for example, EuroFLIR 410 and tactical radar from Thales) and other helicopter equipment.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the H160M helicopter (according to the manufacturer):
H160M helicopter for the French Armed Forces
- maximum take-off weight: 6050 kg;
- payload (including fuel): up to 2000 kg;
- flight range: up to 848 km;
- Engines: 2 x Safran Arrano 1A with 738 kW/1003 hp each;
- crew: 2 pilots with 5 fully equipped commandos or 2 pilots, up to 5 soldiers and 2 transported wounded;
- on-board weapons: machine gun or sniper rifle;
- armament on the upper suspension units: guided missiles and heavy machine guns.
According to the materials of the resource soldat-und-technik.de
