France begins testing new H160M Guépard to operate one military helicopter across all armed forces
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On July 24, 2025, the first prototype of the Airbus H160M Guépard successfully completed its maiden flight at Marignane, near Aix-en-Provence, marking a formal milestone in the Joint Light Helicopter program (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger – HIL) launched by France’s Direction générale de l’armement (DGA). The aircraft, a militarized version of the civil H160 platform, was flown by test pilot Samuel Chartier alongside flight test engineers Nicolas Certain, Laurent Maruejols, and Alban Corpron. The flight was conducted in front of approximately 350 invited guests, including representatives from Airbus, the French Armed Forces, and DGA personnel. The H160M, officially named Guépard by the French Armed Forces, has been developed to serve as a unified platform to equip the French Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force, replacing five legacy helicopters: the SA341/342 Gazelle, AS555 Fennec, SA365 Dauphin, AS565 Panther, and the Alouette III.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The H160M Guépard is the first Airbus helicopter to be designed from the outset for integrated drone cooperation, and it is a rare example of a single multirole helicopter platform intended for use across all three branches of a nation’s armed forces. (Picture source: Bruno Even)
The HIL program was officially launched into development in December 2021, after years of delays and revisions. In March 2017, then-Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that the HIL would be based on the Airbus H160 platform and that its introduction into service would be advanced by at least four years to 2024. However, the 2019–2024 Military Programming Law postponed the program, forcing the Navy to lease six H160s configured for maritime operations and ten additional Dauphin N3s for interim use. It was only under the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law that the full development and acquisition of 169 Guépard helicopters was reaffirmed. These include 80 units for the Army, 49 for the Navy, and 40 for the Air and Space Force. The contract also encompasses ten H160s for the Gendarmerie and one H160 for the DGA’s flight test center. The overall value of the development and acquisition package is estimated at €10 billion and includes support systems, training, and ten years of maintenance.
The Guépard program relies on three dedicated military prototypes. The first, which has just flown, will focus on validating flight performance and will carry out live weapon firing trials in 2026 at a DGA test range. A second prototype, currently in final assembly, will be used for cold and hot weather campaigns. The third prototype will support additional mission-specific trials, including those related to naval configurations. The aircraft incorporates structural and mission system modifications compared to the civil H160. With a maximum takeoff weight of 6,050 kg and an alternate gross weight of 6,250 kg, it is powered by two Safran Arrano 1A engines rated at 1,280 shp each. It features a fully composite airframe, a five-blade Blue Edge main rotor to reduce blade-vortex interaction noise, and a canted fenestron tail rotor to improve low-speed stability. The Guépard offers a top speed of 272 km/h, a cruise speed of 255 km/h, a maximum range of 880 km, and an endurance of 4.5 hours. It accommodates two pilots and five combat-equipped troops, and it is designed to be compatible with air-to-air refueling from KC-130J and A400M transport aircraft.
The avionics suite is based on Thales’ FlytX system, which consolidates flight and mission data on touchscreen displays and was also selected for the Tiger attack helicopter’s mid-life upgrade. This system was tested during the Guépard’s first flight and is intended to enable complex mission execution in degraded environments. A Safran-developed Euroflir 410 NG electro-optical system supports long-range observation and target designation under all lighting conditions. The radar is Thales’ AirMaster C, an AESA radar operating in the X-band, designed with active antenna panels that can be configured in either single or triple-panel fixed installations. The radar is 30% lighter and more compact than previous-generation systems and can detect and classify targets of different sizes and speeds across all environments, including maritime and aerial theaters. Flight testing of the AirMaster C demonstrator began in May 2025 under the DRAGON program. The aircraft also features a Thales CATS 150-based self-protection suite capable of deploying countermeasures automatically across the optical and electromagnetic spectrum.
The Guépard’s mission-specific configuration includes multiple secure communication systems allowing full integration into air, land-air, and maritime operations. The communications suite incorporates the CONTACT software-defined radio and supports a broad spectrum of communication frequencies, including HF, VHF, UHF, SATCOM, Link 16, Link 22, and video data links. One of the key distinguishing features of the Guépard is its native integration with drone cooperation systems. This is the first Airbus helicopter designed from the start to cooperate with UAVs, enabling coordinated missions even in jammed or degraded environments. The Ministry of Armed Forces has confirmed that concepts of employment and the accompanying drones are currently being developed in collaboration with the services, aiming to enhance operational flexibility and resilience.
The Guépard can be armed using the HForce modular weapon integration system developed by Airbus. Confirmed armament options include 12.7 mm machine gun pods from FN Herstal, 7.62 mm pintle-mounted machine guns, sniper rifles mounted on articulated arms, and Thales laser-guided rocket systems. The TELSON launcher from Thales LAS/France, using an induction-activated firing system, will also be tested. These systems provide the Guépard with the ability to perform armed reconnaissance, close air support, and combat insertion. However, for budgetary and operational reasons, the originally planned integration of the Sea Venom (ANL) anti-ship missile and MU90 lightweight torpedo has been removed from the first standard. The Navy version of the Guépard will include structural reinforcements, a harpoon landing system, a diver deployment platform, and a Link 22 tactical datalink, adding only 50 kg to the aircraft’s overall weight.
According to Airbus, the H160M is intended to be a single multirole helicopter platform capable of fulfilling reconnaissance, transport, air support, medical evacuation, and maritime surveillance tasks. The aircraft is currently projected to be delivered to the armed forces beginning in late 2028, with production expected to reach 20 units per year from 2027. The DGA has confirmed that the first 30 helicopters are on firm order and that the planned delivery schedule aligns with Army requirements. At the DGA flight test center, an H160 testbed equipped with control consoles, data recording bays, and a system to modify flight control laws has already entered service. This platform is used to train personnel from the EPNER test pilot school and to assess aerodynamics, systems integration, and radar signatures. The test center also manages seven regional airspace zones for acceptance flights and certification.
Although primarily developed for France, Airbus aims to position the Guépard as a competitive option in the global medium helicopter market, currently dominated by Leonardo. The company is targeting 50% of the market share in this category, promoting the Guépard’s modularity, modern systems, and reduced operational costs. While no export contracts have yet been signed, the manufacturer reports strong interest, particularly in Europe and Africa. The aircraft was presented to foreign delegations during the 2025 Paris Air Show and has drawn attention due to its modularity and logistical commonality with civil H160s. Fifty H160s are already in operation globally, including six leased to the French Navy for maritime search and rescue. Airbus hopes that the shared production chain and digitalized maintenance concept will appeal to foreign buyers seeking mid-weight multirole helicopters. The Guépard’s components are produced across several Airbus sites: Donauwörth (fuselage), Le Bourget (rotor blades), Albacete (tail boom), and Marignane (final assembly line), which uses a 40-day process over five stations.
Despite the optimism surrounding the program, the French Armed Forces have not yet designated a formal successor for the Puma and Cougar transport helicopters, which remain in service despite their advanced age. The Air Force has acknowledged that the Puma fleet has insufficient availability to meet overseas operational demands, and proposals to accelerate its replacement are under consideration. For now, the Guépard is intended to supplement the Tiger, NH90, and Caracal helicopters in service and will not address the heavy-lift capability gap. According to Stéphane Kammerer, deputy director of operations at the DGA, “it is too early to draw conclusions, but initial feedback is encouraging.” The Ministry of Armed Forces has reiterated that the first flight marks a significant but early phase, and that the success of the Guépard program will depend on meeting the operational, technical, and budgetary objectives established under the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law.
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On July 24, 2025, the first prototype of the Airbus H160M Guépard successfully completed its maiden flight at Marignane, near Aix-en-Provence, marking a formal milestone in the Joint Light Helicopter program (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger – HIL) launched by France’s Direction générale de l’armement (DGA). The aircraft, a militarized version of the civil H160 platform, was flown by test pilot Samuel Chartier alongside flight test engineers Nicolas Certain, Laurent Maruejols, and Alban Corpron. The flight was conducted in front of approximately 350 invited guests, including representatives from Airbus, the French Armed Forces, and DGA personnel. The H160M, officially named Guépard by the French Armed Forces, has been developed to serve as a unified platform to equip the French Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force, replacing five legacy helicopters: the SA341/342 Gazelle, AS555 Fennec, SA365 Dauphin, AS565 Panther, and the Alouette III.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The H160M Guépard is the first Airbus helicopter to be designed from the outset for integrated drone cooperation, and it is a rare example of a single multirole helicopter platform intended for use across all three branches of a nation’s armed forces. (Picture source: Bruno Even)
The HIL program was officially launched into development in December 2021, after years of delays and revisions. In March 2017, then-Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian announced that the HIL would be based on the Airbus H160 platform and that its introduction into service would be advanced by at least four years to 2024. However, the 2019–2024 Military Programming Law postponed the program, forcing the Navy to lease six H160s configured for maritime operations and ten additional Dauphin N3s for interim use. It was only under the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law that the full development and acquisition of 169 Guépard helicopters was reaffirmed. These include 80 units for the Army, 49 for the Navy, and 40 for the Air and Space Force. The contract also encompasses ten H160s for the Gendarmerie and one H160 for the DGA’s flight test center. The overall value of the development and acquisition package is estimated at €10 billion and includes support systems, training, and ten years of maintenance.
The Guépard program relies on three dedicated military prototypes. The first, which has just flown, will focus on validating flight performance and will carry out live weapon firing trials in 2026 at a DGA test range. A second prototype, currently in final assembly, will be used for cold and hot weather campaigns. The third prototype will support additional mission-specific trials, including those related to naval configurations. The aircraft incorporates structural and mission system modifications compared to the civil H160. With a maximum takeoff weight of 6,050 kg and an alternate gross weight of 6,250 kg, it is powered by two Safran Arrano 1A engines rated at 1,280 shp each. It features a fully composite airframe, a five-blade Blue Edge main rotor to reduce blade-vortex interaction noise, and a canted fenestron tail rotor to improve low-speed stability. The Guépard offers a top speed of 272 km/h, a cruise speed of 255 km/h, a maximum range of 880 km, and an endurance of 4.5 hours. It accommodates two pilots and five combat-equipped troops, and it is designed to be compatible with air-to-air refueling from KC-130J and A400M transport aircraft.
The avionics suite is based on Thales’ FlytX system, which consolidates flight and mission data on touchscreen displays and was also selected for the Tiger attack helicopter’s mid-life upgrade. This system was tested during the Guépard’s first flight and is intended to enable complex mission execution in degraded environments. A Safran-developed Euroflir 410 NG electro-optical system supports long-range observation and target designation under all lighting conditions. The radar is Thales’ AirMaster C, an AESA radar operating in the X-band, designed with active antenna panels that can be configured in either single or triple-panel fixed installations. The radar is 30% lighter and more compact than previous-generation systems and can detect and classify targets of different sizes and speeds across all environments, including maritime and aerial theaters. Flight testing of the AirMaster C demonstrator began in May 2025 under the DRAGON program. The aircraft also features a Thales CATS 150-based self-protection suite capable of deploying countermeasures automatically across the optical and electromagnetic spectrum.
The Guépard’s mission-specific configuration includes multiple secure communication systems allowing full integration into air, land-air, and maritime operations. The communications suite incorporates the CONTACT software-defined radio and supports a broad spectrum of communication frequencies, including HF, VHF, UHF, SATCOM, Link 16, Link 22, and video data links. One of the key distinguishing features of the Guépard is its native integration with drone cooperation systems. This is the first Airbus helicopter designed from the start to cooperate with UAVs, enabling coordinated missions even in jammed or degraded environments. The Ministry of Armed Forces has confirmed that concepts of employment and the accompanying drones are currently being developed in collaboration with the services, aiming to enhance operational flexibility and resilience.
The Guépard can be armed using the HForce modular weapon integration system developed by Airbus. Confirmed armament options include 12.7 mm machine gun pods from FN Herstal, 7.62 mm pintle-mounted machine guns, sniper rifles mounted on articulated arms, and Thales laser-guided rocket systems. The TELSON launcher from Thales LAS/France, using an induction-activated firing system, will also be tested. These systems provide the Guépard with the ability to perform armed reconnaissance, close air support, and combat insertion. However, for budgetary and operational reasons, the originally planned integration of the Sea Venom (ANL) anti-ship missile and MU90 lightweight torpedo has been removed from the first standard. The Navy version of the Guépard will include structural reinforcements, a harpoon landing system, a diver deployment platform, and a Link 22 tactical datalink, adding only 50 kg to the aircraft’s overall weight.
According to Airbus, the H160M is intended to be a single multirole helicopter platform capable of fulfilling reconnaissance, transport, air support, medical evacuation, and maritime surveillance tasks. The aircraft is currently projected to be delivered to the armed forces beginning in late 2028, with production expected to reach 20 units per year from 2027. The DGA has confirmed that the first 30 helicopters are on firm order and that the planned delivery schedule aligns with Army requirements. At the DGA flight test center, an H160 testbed equipped with control consoles, data recording bays, and a system to modify flight control laws has already entered service. This platform is used to train personnel from the EPNER test pilot school and to assess aerodynamics, systems integration, and radar signatures. The test center also manages seven regional airspace zones for acceptance flights and certification.
Although primarily developed for France, Airbus aims to position the Guépard as a competitive option in the global medium helicopter market, currently dominated by Leonardo. The company is targeting 50% of the market share in this category, promoting the Guépard’s modularity, modern systems, and reduced operational costs. While no export contracts have yet been signed, the manufacturer reports strong interest, particularly in Europe and Africa. The aircraft was presented to foreign delegations during the 2025 Paris Air Show and has drawn attention due to its modularity and logistical commonality with civil H160s. Fifty H160s are already in operation globally, including six leased to the French Navy for maritime search and rescue. Airbus hopes that the shared production chain and digitalized maintenance concept will appeal to foreign buyers seeking mid-weight multirole helicopters. The Guépard’s components are produced across several Airbus sites: Donauwörth (fuselage), Le Bourget (rotor blades), Albacete (tail boom), and Marignane (final assembly line), which uses a 40-day process over five stations.
Despite the optimism surrounding the program, the French Armed Forces have not yet designated a formal successor for the Puma and Cougar transport helicopters, which remain in service despite their advanced age. The Air Force has acknowledged that the Puma fleet has insufficient availability to meet overseas operational demands, and proposals to accelerate its replacement are under consideration. For now, the Guépard is intended to supplement the Tiger, NH90, and Caracal helicopters in service and will not address the heavy-lift capability gap. According to Stéphane Kammerer, deputy director of operations at the DGA, “it is too early to draw conclusions, but initial feedback is encouraging.” The Ministry of Armed Forces has reiterated that the first flight marks a significant but early phase, and that the success of the Guépard program will depend on meeting the operational, technical, and budgetary objectives established under the 2024–2030 Military Programming Law.
