Helicopter prototype H160M gains form
The H160M, a militarized version of the civil H160 platform, is being developed by Airbus Helicopters for the French Armed Forces. Known as the "Guépard," this modern and versatile helicopter is set to replace five legacy helicopter types, emphasizing flexibility and interoperability across the French military.
The development and integration process of the H160M centers around adapting the civil H160 platform into a militarized version. This transformation involves significant military enhancements, with the assembly process building major components derived from the civil model’s architecture and integrating new military-specific systems such as weapons carriers and modular armaments.
The modular weapons system, called HForce, is a key feature of the H160M. Integrated into the aircraft structure, it allows for quick armament installation with minimal downtime. The installation involves only a short lay-up period and a few hours to equip the helicopter with weapons systems.
Airbus Helicopters is manufacturing three prototypes to accelerate this process. As of mid-2025, the second prototype is in final assembly, with the first flight scheduled for 2025. Each prototype serves a different testing role: the first focuses on validating flight performance and weapons firing campaigns, the second undergoes environmental testing, including hot and cold weather, and the third supports further development phases.
The assembly of the H160M involves tightly integrated collaboration between engineering, assembly, and test flight teams. Final assembly takes place on components such as the rotors, fuselage, avionics, and weapons systems to compose a fully operational military helicopter ready for testing and eventual production.
The main fuselage of the first militarised H160 was assembled and tested in Germany before being sent to Marignane. Key components, such as blades, tail boom, and main gear box, come from Paris le Bourget, France, Donauwörth, Germany, Albacete, Spain, and Marignane, France, respectively.
Digital simulations can't replace real-life testing for measuring the aerodynamic impact of equipment on the helicopter’s in-flight performance. To bridge this gap, mockups of sensors, communication antennas, electronic warfare systems, and the landing gear of the H160M have been mounted on an Airbus H160 prototype for aerodynamic testing.
The H160M’s cockpit has been reproduced on a test bench, known as the "system helicopter zero" test bench, and connected to the real systems. Thales' TopOwl helicopter pilot head-up display helmet, an inertial navigation system, communication systems, and the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) have been integrated into the test bench.
The H160M’s development contract includes the delivery of a first batch of 30 aircraft (21 for the army, 8 for the navy, and one for the air force). An integrated in-flight test team, comprising personnel from the armed forces and Airbus Helicopters, has been set up to prepare for the next phases of the development and test programme of the H160M. The French Ministry for the Armed Forces plans to order a total of 169 H160M helicopters.
In December 2021, the French Armament General Directorate (DGA) signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the development and procurement of the H160M as part of the Light Joint Helicopter programme (HIL). The team has also been working on a pre-serial H160 to test some of the autopilot modes that will also be available on the H160M.
The H160 and H160M are made up of four Major Component Assemblies (MCA). Each helicopter is a testament to the collaborative effort between Airbus Helicopters and its global supply chain partners, ensuring the H160M’s development hinges on converting the civilian airframe through modular upgrades and weapon system integration, with thorough prototype assembly and testing phases to refine performance and operational capabilities prior to mass production and delivery starting around 2028.
