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

This is a developing story. Information may change as official details are released.

Five Indian Air Forces (IAF) personnel were killed and one was injured when an Antonov An-32 transport aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Jorhat Air Force Station in Assam on June 13, 2026.

The twin-engine turboprop was conducting a routine cargo sortie when the accident occurred at approximately 10:00 AM local time (04:30 UTC). According to an official statement from the IAF, the aircraft caught fire upon landing, prompting the immediate deployment of emergency response teams and the sealing of the military airbase.

Casualties and emergency response

The IAF confirmed the deaths of five personnel on board the aircraft. The deceased were identified as Squadron Leader Prashant Singh, Flight Lieutenant Shubham Kumar, Sergeant Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat, and Agniveervayu Danish Alam.

The Indian Air Force deeply regrets the loss of five personnel in the An-32 accident at Jorhat, Assam. Sqn Ldr Prashant Singh, Flt Lt Shubham Kumar, Sgt Jitendra Sharma, Agniveervayu Khemaram Kumawat and Agniveervayu Danish Alam made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. IAF extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and stands firmly with them in this hour of grief.

A sixth occupant, identified as the co-pilot, survived the crash with injuries and is currently undergoing treatment at an IAF medical facility, according to reporting by Gulf News. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a statement honoring the deceased personnel, stating that their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered with pride and gratitude.

Investigation and fleet history

The cause of the accident has not been determined. The IAF announced that a Court of Inquiry has been constituted to investigation the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Antonov An-32 has operated as a primary medium-lift transport aircraft for the IAF since 1984. The fleet, which currently comprises approximately 100 to 105 aircraft according to Al Jazeera, is heavily utilized for logistics and operations in the high-altitude and remote regions of Northeast India and the Himalayas.

The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently initiated a $400 million upgrade program to modernize the avionics and extend the service life of the An-32 fleet. The aircraft type has been involved in previous fatal accidents in the region. According to the Times of India, a 2019 crash involving an An-32 departing from the same Jorhat airbase resulted in 13 fatalities in Arunachal Pradesh, and a 2016 disappearance over the Bay of Bengal resulted in the loss of 29 people.

AirPro News analysis

The loss of another An-32 in the Northeast frontier underscores the severe operational environment in which the IAF operates its transport fleet. While the recent $400 million avionics upgrade was intended to enhance situational awareness and safety, the Himalayan foothills remain one of the most challenging flying environments globally. We expect the Court of Inquiry will closely examine whether environmental factors, technical issues, or a combination thereof played a role in this landing phase accident.

Sources: Indian Air Force

The Boeing Company (BA) has expanded its German industry consortium for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), adding Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG and Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG to pitch a customized variant of the autonomous drone to the German Air Force (Luftwaffe).

Announced on June 10, 2026, at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the expanded team joins existing strategic partner Rheinmetall AG. The group aims to deliver a tailored version of the Australian-developed aircraft to Germany by 2029, integrating local sensors, communications, and weapons systems to meet national requirements.

Industry partnerships and German customization

The addition of Diehl Defence and Rohde & Schwarz brings specific domestic capabilities to the MQ-28 platform. Diehl Defence will focus on integrating air-to-ground weapons and guided missiles. Chief Executive Officer Helmut Rauch stated the company is prepared to contribute its munitions expertise to offer the CCA to its home country customer.

Rohde & Schwarz will provide secure, interoperable communications architecture. Andreas Domann, Vice President of Multidomain Directional Communications Systems Business, highlighted the integration of the Networked Multipoint Array Communications System (NEMACS) to provide broadband access to the combat cloud.

Rheinmetall AG, which previously joined the team as a strategic partner, is tasked with integrating the MQ-28 into the broader systems of the German Ministry of Defense (Bundeswehr). Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger noted the company is taking responsibility for the seamless integration of the autonomous combat drone into existing military networks.

Upgraded MQ-28 capabilities and stealth validation

Alongside the partnership expansion on June 10, 2026, Boeing unveiled significant capability upgrades for the MQ-28. The new configuration features a wingspan increase of more than 25 percent, allowing for an additional 2,000 pounds of fuel and mission payloads.

The upgraded design includes two internal weapons stations capable of carrying munitions such as AMRAAM missiles or Small Diameter Bombs, as well as Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) communication links. The physical expansion follows a June 1, 2026, announcement that Boeing successfully validated the aircraft’s stealth performance and radar cross-section inside a dedicated test chamber.

“That additional capacity gives operators freedom to balance payload and endurance to configure for the mission at hand, whether that means carrying extra fuel for longer-range operations, increasing weapons carriage, or any combination of both,” said Glen Ferguson, MQ-28 Global Program Director at Boeing.

AirPro News analysis

While Boeing and its industry partners are targeting a 2029 delivery date for the Luftwaffe, we note that a formal procurement contract has not yet been finalized. According to reporting by Breaking Defense, the German Ministry of Defense has declined to comment on the timeline prior to pending parliamentary deliberations. The MQ-28 is currently competing against other European CCA concepts to fulfill Germany’s requirement for an unmanned wingman. The aggressive 2029 target suggests Boeing is positioning the Ghost Bat as a mature, low-risk option compared to clean-sheet European designs, leveraging its existing flight test history with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and a localized supply chain.

Sources: The Boeing Company