Mon, Jan 17, 2022
Gendarmerie Operators First to Buy LE Version of Medium Helicopter
The first law enforcement customer to adopt the newer Airbus H160 medium helicopter will be the Gendarmerie Nationale, after a purchase for 10 aircraft in suitable tactical configuration was made by the French Armament General Directorate.
The purchase comes as part of a stimulus plain aimed at supporting the national aeronautical industry in France, as well as retaining domestic aircraft expertise. The deal will include a global support contract managed by Airbus for the provision of tech support, spare parts stocks on 4 Gendarmerie bases, and associated services.
The H160 remains a relatively new addition to the Airbus lineup, building a name for itself as it accumulates orders from across the world. The addition to the Gendarmerie follows a large 2020 contract for 169 H160M's for the Ministry of Armed Forces, as well as a recent order for 2 additional H160's for the French Navy to serve as adjunct search and rescue aircraft. Airbus has been a part of the country's aeronautical industry since its inception, intertwined with the development, evaluation, and maintenance of their aircraft as a matter of national health and security. The creation of an H160 suited to law enforcement work was a matter of cooperation alongside the Gendarmerie, according to company CEO Bruno Even.
“Developing this new configuration for the H160 in cooperation with an experienced customer like the Gendarmerie Nationale is key to the success of the program.” Their H160's will see the normally versatile, medium transport helicopter enhanced with Safran's Euroflir 410 electro-optical system, with additional winching, and fast roping capabilities for rapid insertion. The H160 will join the Gendarmerie's stable of Airbus helicopters in service, ranging from the H125 to the H145. The increased transportation capability, advanced avionics, and quieter operation are key aspects of the design, perfect for use by the infamous GIGN intervention group. The first of the aircraft are expected to be delivered by the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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