Page 25 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 Online Magazine

The French military will soon receive a new [ AIR SYSTEMS ]
light helicopter under the Light Joint Helicopter
(Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger; HIL) pro-
gramme with the French Armament General
Directorate (DGA) inking a contract with
Airbus Helicopters for the development and
procurement of the H160M military helicopter.
The initial contract outlines the development
of several prototypes along with the deliv-
ery of an initial batch of 30 helicopters (21
for the army, 8 for the navy and one for the
air force). “The Guépard is the result of ten
years of close cooperation with the DGA and
the French armed forces,” said Bruno Even,
CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The H160M will
bring new capabilities to the armed forces as
it is adapted to modern warfare thanks to its
Revolutionary acoustic footprint, and a fully integrated sup-
increased connectivity, manoeuvrability, low

port system. Having the French armed forces,
a world reference, as our launch customer for
Rotorcraft the H160M is extremely valuable.”

The French Ministry for the Armed Forces
plans to order a total of 169 H160M helicop-
ters - French Army (80), Air Force (40) and
Navy (49). The new rotorcraft will be known
AIRBUS HELICOPTERS SIGNS FIRST MILITARY as “Guépard” (“Cheetah”) in the French armed
CONTRACT FOR THE H160M, WITH THE FRENCH forces and deliveries will begin in 2027 starting
ARMED FORCES with the French Army. The H160M will perform
missions alongside newer French helicopters
such as the Tiger, Caiman Marine and Caracal.
As a joint development programme, the costs
Atul Chandra will be shared between the army, air force and

ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY January/February 2022 | 25