- The Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) successfully supervised, at its DGA Flight Test site in Cazaux (33), and in collaboration with Airbus Helicopters, the first firing campaign of the Guépard Airbushelicopter.
- These tests take place less than a year after the first flight of the prototype in July 2025. They consist of firings from the axial gun pod, weapons at the doors (machine gun and sniper rifle type) and decoys.
- The Guépard is being developed as part of the Joint Light Helicopter (HIL) program, with a view to equipping the three French armed forces with a single, multi-role helicopter, replacing five models: Gazelle, Alouette III, Dauphin, Panther and Fennec.
- Included in the updated 2024-2030 military programming law, the development and acquisition of these helicopters covers 80 aircraft for the Army, 49 for the Navy and 40 for the Air and Space Force, with a view to a first delivery in 2028.
This is a key milestone in the HIL program, achieved according to the development schedule. In addition to the deployment of weapons and decoys, it also enabled the first flight tests of the mission assistant. This computer system, connected to all the sensors, communication systems, and weapons of the Guépard, allows the crew to maximize their performance and ensure high operational efficiency.
The success of this campaign relies on the indispensable contribution of the DGA’s technical experts. Under the coordination of the DGA Engineering and Projects Testing and Expertise Centre, the preparation of this campaign mobilized experts from several DGA centres in synergy: DGA Flight Testing, DGA Land Systems and DGA Aerospace Systems.
The tests were conducted at DGA Flight Test Center in Cazaux (33), which deployed its full range of operational and technical expertise. The center notably ensured the integration of these activities at the CALAMAR instrumented test range, which specializes in testing weapon systems under real-world conditions. Furthermore, DGA Flight Test Center deployed its complete test engineering capabilities. These include safety and regulatory oversight of pyrotechnical operations, air traffic control for testing and acceptance, as well as the skills (pilots, armorers) and technical resources (telemetry, ground infrastructure) essential for the smooth execution of the operations.
Based on the Airbus Helicopters H160 civilian helicopter, the Guépard was selected as a common platform to meet the diverse operational needs of the armed forces. Modular and versatile, it will perform combat, intelligence, airspace and maritime surveillance, light operational transport and support missions, as well as public service missions, complementing the Tigre, NH90, and Caracal helicopters already in service.
It will be equipped with innovative avionics, derived from Thales’ FlytX system, designed for dual-use operations, offering a scalable solution that optimizes crew actions for improved operational efficiency. Its weapons system allows for the integration of numerous weapons. In addition to those tested during these trials , the integration of rockets, laser-guided rockets, and Akeron LP anti-tank missiles is under consideration.
For its missions in support of the French Navy and the Air and Space Force, it will also be equipped with the next-generation Airmaster C radar, developed by Thales. A new series of tests for this radar, conducted jointly with Thales, is currently being prepared by DGA Flight Test Center. Furthermore, it will incorporate advanced systems (resilient navigation and radio communication) enabling enhanced cooperation between drones and helicopters, even in jammed environments.
Particular attention has been paid to taking into account support issues from the beginning of the program to guarantee very high operational availability.
The Guépard will be assembled at the Airbus Helicopters site in Marignane (13). The development and manufacturing of this aircraft will benefit the entire French aerospace sector, particularly its SMEs, across the country, with 80% of suppliers located in France. In total, more than 2,000 jobs will be sustainably supported in France by the Guépard and its export derivatives.
