France’s next-generation military helicopter, the H160M Guepard, has completed a flight milestone at Airbus Helicopters’ Marignane facility, according to an announcement from the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) on July 24.
Developed as part of the Light Joint Helicopter (HIL) program, the Guépard is intended to provide a modular, multi-role rotorcraft platform across all three branches of the French Armed Forces.
The prototype, based on the H160 airframe, integrates advanced resilient navigation and secure radio communication systems, enabling improved coordination with drones even in contested or jammed environments, the DGA said in a release.
Designed for joint-service use, the Guépard will support a wide range of operations, including combat missions, intelligence gathering, aerial and maritime surveillance, light transport, and civil support roles.
According to the DGA, a total of 169 Guépard helicopters are slated for delivery under the French military’s current defense programming law (LPM 2024–2030). Distribution across the services is planned as follows: 80 helicopters for the French Army (Armée de Terre), 49 for the French Navy (Marine Nationale), and 40 for the French Air and Space Force (Armée de l’Air et de l’Espace).
The military version of the H160 was developed with a focus on interoperability and operational flexibility. The aircraft’s modular design is intended to streamline training and logistics across services while enhancing France’s ability to deploy rapidly in support of national and international missions.
Additional test flights and integration work are expected in the months ahead as the Guépard moves closer to initial operational capability.