France has ordered two more H 160 helicopters from Airbus, as announced by the French procurement authority Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) on 20 May. They are to be delivered in a special, slightly militarised search-and-rescue version. Babcock will install an electro-optical system from the French company Safran for this purpose.
With the Euroflir 410, the environment can be recorded and displayed to the pilot in any weather and at any time of day. Depending on the version, optical and laser sensors are integrated. The H 160 is also equipped with a cable winch and a modular cabin that can be converted for various missions. Additional night vision devices and corresponding certification enable pilots to use the winch in the dark.
Euroflir 410 from Safran
The DGA had already ordered four H 160s for the same purpose last year. The first of these aircraft is now under construction at Airbus in Marignane and is scheduled to enter service in May 2022.
The helicopters will be stationed at NAS Lanveoc-Poulmic in Brittany, at Cherbourg airport in Normandy and at NAS Hyères in Provence. There, they will replace the NH 90 and Panther helicopters currently available for SAR missions so that they can be assigned to their actual task of operating on board warships of the German Navy.
H 160 from Airbus Helicopters for the German Navy
Text: mb; Photos: Airbus, Safran
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