Second of six Airbus H160s ordered in 2020 and 2021 by the DGA

This 2nd helicopter was accepted on March 27, 2023 at the Babcock site in Le Cannet-des-Maures. It is the second of six aircraft ordered in 2020 and 2021 by the Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA) from Airbus Helicopters, Babcock and Safran Helicopter Engines under France's 2019-2025 military programming law (LPM). Their deliveries, which began in 2022, will be staggered until the end of 2023.

Relief of the Caiman Marine, Dauphin and Panther on public service missions

These six H160 helicopters will take over from the Caiman Marine, Dauphin and Panther on public service and intervention missions from land, including Secmar (Search and Rescue or Maritime Rescue), allowing the deployment on board Navy ships of the helicopters thus made available, to fulfill their primary mission as aero-maritime combat helicopters. Feedback on the use of these helicopters and their support system will contribute to the development of the military version of the aircraft, the H160M "Guépard" of the Light Joint Helicopter (HIL) program, also led by the DGA.

At the French Navy's Lanvéoc-Poulmic and Hyères bases, and at Cherbourg airport.

These six H160 helicopters specially configured for sea rescue will be deployed progressively from mid-2023, at the French Navy's Lanvéoc-Poulmic and Hyères naval aviation bases, and at Cherbourg airport. The delivery of this second H160 helicopter will enable the Navy to continue ongoing experiments while training future operational crews. Manufactured by Airbus Helicopters with additional mission adaptation by Babcock, these H160s are equipped with a winch, the Euroflir 410 optronic system from Safran Electronics & Defense, and modular cabins for optimized layout for government action at sea (AEM) missions. They will be certified to fly with night vision binoculars, required in particular for night missions.

Maintained in operational condition by Babcock

These helicopters will be maintained in operational condition by Babcock as part of a partnership with Airbus Helicopters and Safran Helicopter Engines. This partnership will ensure a high level of availability of the aircraft, which is necessary for the permanence of the sea rescue mission on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, as well as in the Channel and North Sea.