Rotorcraft
French Military To Consolidate Light Helo Fleet with Multi-role Cheetah
The H160M has been named the Guépard, or Cheetah, by its launch customer the French ministry of defense.
The Airbus Helicopters H160M—shown here in a mockup form as the Guépard, or Cheetah, for French military forces—is the company’s replacement for the AS365 and EC155 models.
The Airbus Helicopters H160M—shown here in a mockup form as the Guépard, or Cheetah, for French military forces—is the company’s replacement for the AS365 and EC155 models.

French minister of the armed forces Florence Parly has introduced its next-generation light joint helicopter dubbed the Guépard, or Cheetah. Based on the Airbus Helicopters H160M, the aircraft will be acquired under France’s light joint helicopter (HIL) program, fulfilling the replacement of all three armed forces’ incumbent fleets with a single type. The army is replacing the Gazelle and Alouette III, the navy its Dauphin and Panther, and the air force its Fennec.