The French Navy has announced that the H160M Guépard prototype has carried out its first integration sequence with a frontline surface ship, as the future joint light helicopter moves closer to shipboard operations.
On January 16, 2026, prototype No. 1 conducted what the French Navy described as an “interaction of opportunity” with the fleet replenishment tanker BRF Jacques Stosskopf, marking the first contact between the Guépard and a French warship. The helicopter flew in an armed configuration close to the ship, but did not land on deck.
Sensor checks near a large ship
According to the French Navy, the point of the evolution was not deck handling but rather electromagnetic environment testing. Specifically, it was to assess how the helicopter’s sensors behaved in the magnetic disturbances generated by a ship the size of a fleet tanker, an issue that could prove important for future embarked operations.
The French Navy also framed the event as part of the Guépard’s ongoing expansion of its flight envelope and broader development campaign, conducted with the DGA and Airbus Helicopters. The service noted that the H160M is a heavily modified derivative of the H160B currently operated by Flottille 32F.
The H160M Guépard program
The H160M is Airbus Helicopters’ militarized version of the civil H160, developed under France’s Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) program to provide a common platform for the Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force. France plans to acquire 169 aircraft, with deliveries currently expected to begin in late 2028.
According to Airbus, the flight test effort will rely on three prototypes, with the first aircraft validating flight performance ahead of live firing campaigns planned for 2026. Another prototype supports environmental trials, including hot and cold weather testing.