The first prototype of the H160M Guepard is demonstrating “outstanding” maturity during flight testing, according to the type’s head of program.
The Guepard is being developed for the French armed forces as part of the country’s Joint Light Helicopter Program (HIL), with an initial order for 30 aircraft. This requirement could rise to up to 169.
The aircraft will equip all three branches of the armed forces — Army, Air Force, and Navy, replacing five types currently in service.
The first of three H160M prototypes was completed earlier this year, and it performed its maiden flight on July 18. The aircraft will primarily be used to validate the type’s flight performance.
During a media tour of the H160 production facility at Airbus Helicopters’ headquarters in Marignane, France, Vincent Chenot, head of the H160 program, said the flight test team has already opened the type’s flight envelope for speed, achieving Vne (never exceed speed).
“We’ve started to test general behavior, [and] we’ve started to test all the vibration topics,” he said. Work on this, and testing of topics related to navigation, thermal behavior, aerodynamic data and basic avionics will last until mid-January.
“The tests are running quite well, the maturity of all the flights we’ve been doing with the first prototype is honestly outstanding,” said Chenot.
He attributed this to the work the company did during development on the system test bench, as well as data gleaned from flying a modified civil H160 to confirm the Guepard’s behavior and aerodynamics.
Testing in 2026 will switch to focus on the aircraft’s mission systems and the integration of different sensors.
The second prototype is currently in assembly and is due to perform its first flight “in the coming months,” said Chenot. The aircraft will perform vehicle testing — testing for the flight loads to determine the life duration of various components in the aircraft — and will be also used for hot and cold weather campaigns.
The final prototype will focus on developing specific requirements for the Navy, and will begin testing in 2027.
“It has a few design differences to accommodate the tactical radar of the Navy, to integrate the harpoon, [and] a bit more structural reinforcement to be able to absorb the loads of the landing on ships in harsh conditions,” said Chenot.
“It’s a real naval helicopter, the Guepard. It’s not a helicopter that will be able to fly on a ship — but only in good conditions. We really have an advanced naval solution.”
The Guepard is equipped with Thales’s FlytX avionics as well as a unique mission system developed by Airbus. FlytX provides a greater surface to display flight and mission information on, with a touchscreen interface. The concept is to allow for all control of a mission to be from the cockpit — with no requirement for a third crewman with a mission console in the cabin.
“We’re quite happy with the maturity we are already having [with FlytX],” said Chenot, who said the system was different to Helionix — the manufacturer’s civil avionics system — but “keeps the same philosophy.”
“We do have a very advanced autopilot, and we have a lot of innovations we’ve been doing on the 160 — and the 160M will be built on that.”
The H160M is natively equipped with a drone cooperation system, and has next-generation sensors including Safran’s Euroflir 410 electro-optical system and Thales’ AirMaster C radar.
The first Guepard deliveries are scheduled to the Army in 2028, followed by the Navy in 2030, and the Air Force in 2032.
Airbus hopes to have the H160M available for foreign customers following its debut with France.
