France Prepares to Launch Next-Generation H160 Helicopter
The French defense procurement agency, the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA), has unveiled the next-generation H160 helicopter, which will be unveiled in Paris during Bastille Day celebrations on July 14.
According to the DGA, the H160 will play a key role in the training of future test pilots at EPNER, the École du Personnel Navigant d’Essais et de Réception (EPNER). Delivery of the aircraft is scheduled for October 2025.
“This advanced helicopter is equipped with advanced test and measurement instruments, allowing it to prepare for the launch of the H160M Guépard, the future French military joint helicopter,” the DGA stated in a release.
The test installation on the H160 is derived from the system used on Airbus Helicopters prototypes. This installation includes:
- Two dedicated test pilot workstations in the cabin, with a command console and dual displays for monitoring flight parameters and conducting evaluations.
- A test chamber in the cargo hold to concentrate, record, and transmit measured data.
- A system for modifying flight control laws, which will help pilots learn advanced flight test techniques.
The helicopter will be on display at a public event near Les Invalides starting at 1:00 p.m. and will be distinguished by its orange-painted flight test elements, a hallmark of French experimental aviation.
The DGA noted that the H160 marks a major step forward in supporting pilot training and the integration of the H160M Guépard into French armed forces operations.
