The French Armament Common Directorate (DGA) has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the event and procurement of the H160M within the body of the Gentle Joint Helicopter program (HIL). The contract contains the event of a number of prototypes and the supply of the primary batch of 30 plane (21 for the military, 8 for the navy, and one for the air power). The French Ministry for the Armed Forces plans to order a complete of 169 H160M helicopters, or Guépard as it will likely be recognized within the French armed forces. Deliveries will begin in 2027 starting with the French Military. The primary of a brand new era of helicopters, the H160M is derived from the EASA-certified H160. It advantages from a low price of operations and optimized flight security. The H160 was designed to be a modular helicopter, enabling its army model, with a single platform, to carry out missions starting from commando infiltration to air intercept, fireplace help, and anti-ship warfare to satisfy the wants of the military, the navy, and the air power.
To make sure a excessive degree of availability whereas lowering working prices, the H160M’s help and providers wants had been taken into consideration from early in its design section. Airbus Helicopters will assure a excessive degree of availability via an modern upkeep contract. Airbus Helicopters commits to modern administration of upkeep and plane availability via a devoted group that has confirmed to achieve success. This group was launched with the worldwide help contract signed in 2020 for the French Cougar and Caracal fleet and has led to a big improve in plane availability. Trials performed within the Moroccan desert in July 2021 demonstrated the effectivity of the H160’s inlet barrier filtration system in defending the Safran Arrano engines in opposition to sand ingestion. The exams within the desert additionally demonstrated the effectivity of the automated flight management system throughout the takeoff and touchdown operations with restricted visibility as a consequence of sand clouds. The H160M might be able to function within the roughest circumstances.
Commercial
The army model of the H160 might be extra discreet than earlier helicopters with a decreased acoustic signature made attainable by the Blue Edge blades. The H160’s stability, maneuverability, and automated flight management system might be key belongings for the army model. The H160M might be geared up with Airbus Helicopters’ HForce weapon system, a modular and incremental answer enabling the usage of a wide selection of weapons. Gear will even embrace a hoist and a quick roping arm. The H160M Guépard might be geared up with the Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system, the Thales FlytX cockpit avionics suite, and the AirMaster C radar. The pilots will have the ability to use the Thales TopOwl Helmet-mounted Sight & Show. The Guépard will even carry a self-protection suite, a satellite tv for pc communication system, and tactical knowledge hyperlink system. The weapon package deal will embrace the MBDA ANL anti-ship missile, pod mounted, and door-mounted weapons.
The Airbus Helicopters H160 (previously X4) is a medium utility helicopter being developed by Airbus Helicopters. Formally launched at Heli-Expo in Orlando, Florida on 3 March 2015, it’s meant to exchange the AS365 and EC155 fashions within the agency’s lineup. In June 2015, the primary check flight came about. The Airbus Helicopters H160 takes benefit of a number of superior manufacturing applied sciences and supplies to provide a lighter, extra environment friendly design. One weight-saving measure was the alternative of standard hydraulic touchdown gear and brakes with electrical counterparts, the primary helicopter on the planet to take action; in line with Airbus, the elimination of hydraulic parts makes the rotorcraft each lighter and safer. In 2015, Airbus claimed that the all-composite H160 would ship the identical primary efficiency because the rival AgustaWestland AW139 whereas being a ton lighter, having a decrease gas consumption, and providing 15–20% decrease direct working prices.
