The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) has
confirmed an option to Airbus Helicopters, Babcock and Safran
Helicopter Engines for two more H160s for the French Navy.
The aircraft will join the fleet of four H160s
already contracted in 2020, the first of which is currently being
assembled by Airbus Helicopters in Marignane, in the south of
France.
The six H160s will be delivered in a Search and
Rescue (SAR) configuration and will gradually start operating from
May 2022 from Lanveoc-Poulmic naval air station (Britany),
Cherbourg airport (Normandy) and Hyères naval air station
(Provence).
Awaiting the H160M “Guépard” deliveries in the frame
of the French Joint Light Helicopter (Hélicoptère Interarmées
Léger: HIL) programme, the H160s will take over the SAR missions
currently conducted by the NH90s and Panthers, allowing these
combat helicopters to fulfill their main tasks at sea on board
combat vessels.
The H160s were ordered in 2018 and will be
maintained and equipped by Babcock in partnership with Airbus
Helicopters, and Safran Helicopters Engines.
Built
by Airbus Helicopters, the six H160s will be equipped with a winch
and a modular cabin that can be optimized for each mission. The
H160s will be certified for use of night vision goggles which are
necessary for winching operations at night.
The six H160s will be modified into a light
military configuration by Babcock, a provider of critical, complex
engineering services to governments, to answer to the needs of the
French Navy. Babcock will integrate the Safran Electronics &
Defense new generation electro-optical system, Euroflir 410.
The H160, as a next generation medium twin-engine
aircraft, powered by Arrano engines, is modular by design in order
to address missions ranging from offshore transportation, private
and business aviation, emergency medical services, and public
services.
169 H160Ms, “Guépard,” are foreseen in the frame
of the HIL programme to replace five types of helicopters in
service with the French armed forces.
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