France’s defense procurement agency (DGA) has inducted the Airbus H160 helicopter into the training fleet of EPNER, the nation’s elite military test pilot academy. The modern aircraft joins the existing H225 “Helicopter Test Bench” to enhance flight training and system validation for test pilots and engineers. It replaces the aging Dauphin SA 365 N, which had long served as France’s primary test helicopter. The new addition will facilitate evaluation of avionics, sensors, and mission systems under authentic flight conditions, accelerating development cycles for future rotorcraft. The H160 also previews capabilities of the upcoming H160M Guépard, the militarized variant chosen in 2021 under France’s joint light helicopter program. The French Ministry of Armed Forces plans to acquire 169 H160Ms for the Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force, consolidating diverse legacy platforms such as the Gazelle, Panther, Alouette III, and Fennec. The first flight of the H160M occurred in July 2025 at Airbus’s Marignane facility, with deliveries expected from late 2028. Airbus has concurrently established a sophisticated ground-based test bench mirroring the H160 cockpit and mission systems for integration trials. Key subsystems, including Safran’s Euroflir 410 electro-optical sensor and Thales avionics, are being evaluated on modified demonstrators to ensure seamless adaptation to the final configuration. This approach allows early familiarization for pilots and engineers with flight characteristics and digital architecture before operational rollout. The program underscores France’s strategy to modernize its helicopter fleet with a modular, interoperable design supporting both national and NATO missions.
