First H160 delivered to French Navy
On 19 May 2022, the first of six H160B Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters was delivered by Airbus Helicopters to Babcock. The helicopter, serial/registration 008/F-HMRE (construction number 1008), will be used by the Marine Nationale (French Navy) for land-based SAR missions along the French coast. Scramble Magazine reported on the first flight of this H160B on 14 February 2022.
The French Navy will operate the six helicopters for a period of ten years from Lanveoc-Poulmic naval air station (Britany), Cherbourg airport (Normandy) and Hyères naval air station (Provence). They will take over the SAR missions currently conducted by the NH90s and Panthers, allowing these combat helicopters to fulfil their main tasks at sea on board combat vessels.
Feedback from the French Navy with these H160s will benefit the design of the military version of the aircraft, the H160M Guépard, and its associated support system.
On 22 December 2021, Scramble Magazine reported that the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA, Armament General Directorate) formalised an order for 169 H160M Guépard helicopters for €10 billion. The Aviation légère de l’armée de Terre (ALAT, Army Light Aviation) will get 80, the Marine Nationale (French Navy) 49, and the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE, French Air Force) will get 40 H160Ms.
Photo: still from video by navalnews.com