In March 2017, Jean-Yves Le Drian, then Minister of Defense, said that the future Léger Helicopter [HIL] “Guépard” would be developed from the H160 of Airbus Helicopters and that this program was going to be accelerated, with a first “advanced four -year” delivery, in 2024.
This decision being supposed to allow saving in terms of operational conditions [MCO] Thanks to the rationalization of the various helicopter fleets implemented by the three armies, the Hil having to replace the gazelle of the light aviation of the Army, the Fennec of the Air Force & Space as well as the Panther, the Dauphin and the Alouette III of naval aeronautics.
Only, the measure recommended by Mr. Drian did not immediately follow the military programming law [LPM] 2019-204 having postponed the realization of this program until later, which obliged the French Navy to rent a “temporary” fleet of helicopters from private providers, namely 6 h160 Fi adapted to maritime operations and 10 Dauphin N3.
However, a market for pre-developing a militarized version of the H160 was notified by the Directorate General of Armament [DGA] at Airbus Helicopters and Safran Helicopters in December 2020.
Then, a year later, the Hil program was truly launched with the command of 169 cheetah [dont les 30 premiers en tranche ferme]as part of a global market then estimated at 10 billion euros, the latter including the development and delivery of helicopters, the supply of the support system, training, MCO for ten years.
In addition, Airbus Helicopters also had to deliver an “test bench” H160 to DGA “flight tests” in order to allow it to carry out “testing tests, equipment qualification and future weapons systems”. What was done, this device having been featured on July 14.
Precisely, this July 24, the DGA announced that the Guépard prototype had just successfully completed its first flight from Marignane [Bouches-du-Rhône]where Airbus Helicopters is established.
“The cheetah has an innovative planeic derived from the Thales Flytx system, also tested during this first flight. This French aircraft, with a dual vocation, offers an evolutionary solution, with a reduced imprint in size, weight and energy consumption, “said the DGA.
In addition, the cheetah will also be equipped with active antennas radar [AESA – Active Electronically Scanned Array] In “Airmaster” band, also supplied by Thales. In addition, said the DGA, the Hil “has[ra] Several armaments whose flight tests will start on a DGA shooting field in the summer of 2026 ″… and even the ability to implement drones.
“The cheetah integrates advanced systems [navigation résiliente et radiocommunication] allowing enhanced cooperation between drones and helicopters, even in the scrambled environment. Employment concepts and support drones are currently being definition with the armed forces, “she said.
The light aviation of the army will be the first to receive cheetahs, 80 copies being intended for it. In detail, the French Navy will have 49 while 40 will fly under the colors of the Air Force & Space.
Photo : DGA
