French H160 SAR helicopter begins test flights

The first of six H160 search and rescue (SAR) helicopters scheduled for delivery to the French Navy has begun flight tests at an Airbus Helicopters site in the southern France, according to the company’s CEO, Bruno Even.

Even made the announcement via his Twitter page on 14 February, where he described the test flights as ‘an important step for the interim fleet and for the partnership between Airbus Helicopters, Babcock and Safran Helicopter Engines’.

The six H160s are expected to gradually enter service with the navy beginning from May 2022, and will serve an operational period of ten years, serving as an interim fleet as the Alouette III is retired from service, and pending Guépard deliveries.

The helicopters were ordered under a contract awarded in January 2020, with an initial order of four aircraft. An option was later exercised in May 2021 for the acquisition of an additional two aircraft under the contract.

The aircraft will be based at Lanveoc-Poulmic naval air station in Britany, Cherbourg airport in Normandy, and and Hyères naval air station in Provence. They will take over SAR missions currently operated by France’s NH90s and Panther fleets, enabling those combat helicopters to focus on their primary tasks at sea, onboard combat vessels.

The order is one of several H160 contracts currently underway for the French government

The French government also ordered 10 H160 helicopters in a law enforcement configuration on behalf of the National Gendarmerie in January 2022, becoming the first Airbus customer to do so.

The government also signed a framework agreement for up to 169 H160M military variants of the aircraft in December 2021, as part of the Joint Light Helicopter program (HIL) to replace five helicopter types currently in service across the three French military services, with a single aircraft type.