:

France Accelerates Joint Light Helicopter Program, Names H160M ‘Guépard’

By Brian Garrett-Glaser

Tuesday, May 28th, 2019

SHARE:

France Accelerates Joint Light Helicopter Program, Names H160M ‘Guépard’

A full-scale mock-up of the H160M “Guépard” (“Cheetah”), revelaed at Airbus Helicopter HQ in Marignane, France. (E. Raz)

The French Armed Forces have accelerated their acquisition timeline for its Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger (HIL), or joint light helicopter program, now scheduled to launch in 2021, according to Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly. The HIL aircraft, for which Airbus Helicopters’ H160M was selected in 2017, is now slated to be operational by 2026. France’s military has ordered 169 H160M helicopters, to be used across its army, navy and air force, replacing and simplifying the five different light attack helicopters currently…

Army

Army Plans To Initiate ISV-Heavy Competition Later This Year, Official Says

The Army is planning to initiate its competition to build the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV)-Heavy in the fourth quarter of this year, a senior acquisition official has said. Jesse Tolleson, […]

Senate Authorization Bill Restricts Building Navy Warships Overseas With Limited Exception For Auxiliaries

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the FY 2027 defense policy bill looks to cut the ability for the Trump administration to buy foreign-made warships, but still allow […]

Army

Army ‘Looking At Options’ For Supporting Munitions Boost Plans If Reconciliation Fails, Official Says

The Army is “looking at options” for how it would support planned boosts to munitions production if Congress doesn’t pass a reconciliation bill with the requested funding, a senior acquisition […]

Build Of At Least 45 MQ-9s By Start Of FY 2029 Required By SASC Bill

Down to an inventory of 135 MQ-9A Reapers due to the loss of two dozen aircraft in strikes on Iran, the Air Force would have to field at least 45 […]