Airbus H160M Guépard Prepares for First Live Firing Campaign

Airbus Helicopters is preparing the H160M military helicopter for its first live firing campaign, a critical test phase that will evaluate the integration of a 12.7 mm axial machine gun with the aircraft’s automated flight and sensor systems.

In a press release issued on June 12, 2026, the manufacturer detailed the upcoming tests for the platform, designated the Guépard by the French Armed Forces. The French Ministry of Armed Forces plans to acquire 169 H160M Helicopters under the Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) program to replace five legacy rotorcraft types. Airbus expects to complete development and qualification work for the H160M by 2030.

Systems integration and crew workload reduction

The upcoming firing campaign is designed to validate the complex digital architecture connecting the H160M’s weaponry to its core flight systems. The helicopter utilizes Thales FlytX Avionics, a Safran EOS410 electro-optical turret, and the TopOwl helmet-mounted display to manage targeting and flight data.

“This is a major event for a Military-Aircraft, which features a very high level of integration of its weaponry with its sensors, its avionics, its mission system and even the autopilot,” stated Vincent Chenot, Head of the H160M programme at Airbus Helicopters.

According to Airbus, this digital integration allows the development of innovative firing modes that maximize the performance of firing passes. The automation also significantly reduces crew workload, a primary objective for the French Armed Forces.

Charles Lanzalavi, technical manager of the H160M programme, noted that the large-format touchscreens of the FlytX suite facilitate streamlined mission management. “This highly integrated and automated avionics will offer users the possibility of conducting complex missions with a crew of only two people,” Lanzalavi said. He added that for naval operations, pilots will be able to operate a latest-generation tactical radar without requiring a third crew member.

Expanding mission profiles and future armaments

While the initial firing campaign focuses on the 12.7 mm axial machine gun, the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) has already authorized studies for integrating the MBDA Akeron LP missile onto the platform. This integration will expand the helicopter’s capabilities to encompass anti-tank, anti-surface, and potentially anti-drone missions.

The H160M is being designed with native Drones collaboration capabilities. Chenot emphasized that the helicopter’s weapon pylons are engineered to anticipate future physical interface requirements, including structural reinforcements necessary to accommodate air-launched effects and remotely operated munitions. To support extended mission durations, the aircraft can also be fitted with two 250-litre internal auxiliary fuel tanks.

Flight test campaign progress

The live firing preparations follow a steady accumulation of flight test data. The first H160M prototype completed its maiden flight on July 18, 2025. According to reporting by Vertical Magazine, the prototype had surpassed 72 flight hours by February 2026. This included a “mini cold campaign” conducted in the French Alps in January 2026 to evaluate the platform’s performance in low-temperature environments.

Airbus noted that the military variant benefits heavily from prior development work. “By taking advantage of the developments already carried out for the Gendarmerie and French Navy, we are already able to offer a version of the H160 today that is perfectly capable of performing a very wide range of military missions,” Chenot stated.

AirPro News analysis

We view the H160M’s emphasis on sensor-to-shooter integration as a defining characteristic of next-generation European rotorcraft procurement. By reducing the crew requirement to two personnel for complex tactical and naval missions, Airbus is addressing persistent military personnel shortages while increasing operational efficiency. The decision to design weapon pylons with structural provisions for future air-launched effects and remotely operated munitions indicates a forward-looking architecture, ensuring the Guépard remains relevant as unmanned collaborative combat doctrines mature over the coming decades. The consolidation of five legacy fleets into a single dynamic platform will also likely yield significant long-term maintenance and training efficiencies for the French Air-Forces.

Sources: Airbus