Airbus Helicopters touts H160 as fleet replacement to French MoD

[Zarvan]

Airbus Helicopters sees an opportunity for its latest H160 offering to fulfil a major French requirement to replace a number of military types in the coming years. Source: Airbus Helicopters

Airbus Helicopters is pitching its developmental H160 platform to the French Ministry of Defence (MoD) as a potential replacement for most of its current rotary-winged inventory, said a company official.

Speaking ahead of the HAI HELI-EXPO event running from 29 February to 3 March in Louisville, Kentucky, H160 programme manager Bernard Fujarski said that, while a military variant of the company's newest helicopter has not yet been launched, talks to offer the platform to fulfil the French MoD's Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger (HIL) requirement are to start shortly.

"[HIL] is a huge project that has not yet been launched, but [through it] the French government is looking to renew every helicopter that flies [in the armed forces], except the NH90, Tiger, and [H225M] Caracal. The current timeline will see this happen in about 2028, but we know they want to bring it forward to 2022," he said.

Formerly designated the X4, the H160 is billed as being a 160 kt-capable helicopter that can carry 12 passengers at distances of up to 120 n miles (or a 450 n mile range with 20-minute reserve for tasks such as search and rescue).

According to Airbus, the H160 is set apart from other helicopters by cutting-edge technologies. These include the noise-reducing and performance-enhancing Blue Edge main rotors, designed to cut the noise signature by 50% (3 dB) and to increase the lift capacity by 100 kg compared with conventional blades. The main rotor assembly is centred on the Spheriflex bearingless main rotor hub, which reduces weight and increases damage tolerance.

Other design firsts include the extensive use of composites, a Fenestron-shrouded tailrotor (the largest to be fitted to a helicopter) which is double-canted at a 12° angle to enhance anti-torque control efficiency, and the company's new Biplane Stabilizer. This stabiliser is designed to help the pilot manoeuvre the aircraft and to reduce the helicopter's aerodynamic penalties in low-speed flight and hover.

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