Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

Babcock recently took delivery of the first of six Airbus H160 intermediate twins it will lease to French Armament General Directorate (DGA) for the French Navy under a 10-year contract. The new helicopters are an interim fleet replacement solution until the fully militarized H160M model is available in 2027. The Navy currently operates an aging fleet of Alouette III helicopters. The new aircraft will be used for search-and-rescue missions from two locations in North and West France.

 


Babcock was named the launch customer for the H160 in 2018, then agreeing to take an unspecified&nbsp;number of the new helicopters for global operations over a five-year period. It provides&nbsp;mission-critical services in 14 countries, ranging from helicopter emergency medical services, aerial firefighting, search and rescue, surveillance operations, and oil and gas transportation.

 


The new aircraft will enter into service with the Navy in September and be equipped with EMS and rescue swimmer equipment, as well as Safran’s Euroflir 410S EO/IR system.&nbsp;

 


In December, the French ministry of defense announced orders for 169 H160Ms for all three service branches—Navy, Army, and Air Force. Operational data from the helicopters leased from Babcock will be used by the three services to ease integration of the H160M.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

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