Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H160 medium helicopter to France’s Gendarmerie Nationale.
The handover took place on December 16, 2025, at Airbus Helicopters’ Marignane site in southern France, with the aircraft delivered to the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior, Airbus said in a statement.
The H160 is the largest helicopter ever operated by the Gendarmerie Nationale and is part of an order for 10 aircraft placed in December 2021. This order was initially announced in June 2020 as part of a larger package totaling €600 million from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, aimed at preserving jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The type is intended to progressively enhance the force’s ability to conduct a wide range of security, surveillance, and public service missions across France.
A new flagship for the Gendarmerie’s helicopter fleet
The H160 delivered to the Gendarmerie is equipped for demanding domestic security operations, including law enforcement, emergency response, surveillance, and support to civil authorities. Airbus says the aircraft benefits from advanced avionics, reduced acoustic footprint, and improved operational efficiency compared with legacy helicopters.
The new H160 will operate alongside the Gendarmerie’s H145 helicopters, which entered service in November 2025 and will replace its aging AS350 helicopters. Both platforms share Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix avionics suite and common systems, a configuration intended to simplify pilot training, maintenance, and fleet management.
According to Airbus, the Gendarmerie’s acceptance and operational entry process will extend into 2026, with crews undergoing qualification and the aircraft completing its final checks before full operational deployment.
Linked to the H160M Guépard military program
In parallel, Airbus is making progress with the military version of its helicopter platform, the H160M Guépard. This model was selected by France under the Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) program to replace several outdated rotorcraft used by the French armed forces.
The French Ministry of Armed Forces plans to acquire a total of 169 H160Ms to replace five aging helicopter models currently in service: the Gazelle, Alouette III, Dauphin, Panther, and Fennec.
The H160M Guépard successfully completed its maiden flight in June 2025, marking the entry of the program into flight testing. The Guépard is a militarized version of the H160, equipped with mission-specific systems.
Airbus has positioned the H160 family as a versatile helicopter platform, suitable for various applications that include civil transport, offshore operations, public service, and military missions.