Airbus Helicopters H160
| Company type | Utility helicopter |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Marignane , France |
| Products | Medium utility helicopter |
The Airbus Helicopters H160—originally designated as the X4—is a medium-class utility helicopter engineered by Airbus Helicopters. Officially unveiled at the Heli-Expo event in Orlando on 3 March 2015, this model is intended to succeed the AS365 and EC155 series. Its maiden flight took place in June 2015. The helicopter obtained its EASA type certification in July 2020, with initial customer deliveries commencing in December 2021.
Development
Initially introduced in 2011 under the X4 codename, the H160 was conceived as a successor to the Eurocopter X3 hybrid demonstrator. Airbus Helicopters' CEO Lutz Bertling characterized it as a transformative advancement, emphasizing features such as the innovative Blue Edge rotor blades, enhanced pilot assistance systems, and minimized vibration for improved ride comfort. The cockpit underwent a comprehensive redesign, with plans set for an interim configuration by 2017 and a fully realized version targeted for 2020.
The development program, valued at approximately €1 billion ($1.12 billion), experienced some scaling back of advanced control technologies due to considerations of cost and risk. On 3 March 2015, the X4 was officially rebranded as the H160, positioned to replace the AS365 Dauphin while competing against models like the AgustaWestland AW139, Sikorsky S-76, and Bell 412. Airbus Helicopters CEO Guillaume Faury referred to it as an "AW139 killer." The H160 also marked the start of Airbus Helicopters' new naming convention, aligning with Airbus' commercial aircraft designations from January 2016 onward.
Its design benefited from Airbus’ manufacturing and support methods derived from fixed-wing programs such as the Airbus A350, incorporating specialized test rigs for dynamic components and systems to expedite development. The first prototype was revealed on 29 May 2015 at Airbus Helicopters’ Marignane facility in France.
Flight testing
The initial H160 prototype conducted its first flight from Marignane on . By November 2015, it had achieved a peak altitude of and reached speeds up to . The second prototype, powered by Turbomeca Arrano engines, completed its inaugural flight on 27 January 2016.
In November 2015, Airbus projected certification and entry into civil service by 2018, alongside plans for a military variant—the H160M—anticipated around 2022. By March 2016, most milestones set for 2015 were accomplished, including aerodynamic validation. Testing prompted relocation of certain electronic components to optimize the center of gravity, while the fenestron tail rotor surpassed performance expectations.
Airbus estimated an annual market demand of between 120 and 150 units and aimed to increase production capacity to roughly 50 helicopters per year. In July 2016, the aeromechanical configuration was finalized. Production began in 2017 with deliveries expected in late 2018 or early 2019. An innovative production approach inspired by automotive manufacturing sought to reduce assembly time by half compared to the Dauphin.
In March 2017, France’s defence minister selected the H160 as the foundation for its tri-service light rotorcraft replacement program (HIL), requiring between 160 and 190 units from 2024 onward to replace various legacy platforms across French armed forces. The military version was designated H160M Guépard in May 2019.
By October 2017, prototypes had logged over 500 flight hours; testing included operations in hot climates and certification flights. In 2018, ten pre-production helicopters were assembled ahead of certification and delivery schedules targeting 2019, with production scaling toward fifty units annually. The first serial production H160 flew on .
The Safran Arrano turboshaft engine secured type certification during the June 2019 Paris Air Show. EASA approval for the H160 was anticipated by year-end, with initial delivery planned to a US corporate transport operator in May 2020.
Following more than 1,500 hours of flight testing across three prototypes, EASA granted type certification on ; FAA approval and US delivery followed later that year. Certification was also achieved in Japan by May 2021 and Brazil by September. The inaugural H160 was delivered on 10 December 2021 to All Nippon Helicopter for electronic news gathering missions starting in early 2022.
Design
The Airbus Helicopters H160 integrates cutting-edge manufacturing methods and advanced materials to achieve a lighter and more efficient aircraft structure. A significant innovation is its substitution of traditional hydraulic landing gear and brake systems with electrical alternatives, making it the world's first helicopter to implement such technology; this modification contributes to weight reduction and improved safety. In 2015, Airbus asserted that the all-composite H160 delivers performance comparable to the competing AgustaWestland AW139, while being approximately one tonne lighter, exhibiting lower fuel consumption, and providing 15–20% reduced direct operating expenses. The use of a composite fuselage also offers enhanced design versatility. Certain features, including full electric de-icing and fly-by-wire controls, were excluded during development due to concerns over added weight and cost.
The H160 stands out as the inaugural rotorcraft equipped with the Blue Edge five-bladed main rotor, characterized by a double-swept blade shape that diminishes noise generated by blade-vortex interactions (BVI), resulting in a 3–4 dB noise reduction and an increased effective payload relative to a scaled Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin rotor. Aerodynamic advancements encompass a biplane tailplane stabilizer that enhances stability at low speeds and a quieter canted fenestron, collectively providing an additional 80 kg of lift. It is also the first civilian helicopter to incorporate a canted fenestron anti-torque tail rotor. Propulsion is supplied by two Safran Arrano turboshaft engines; an alternative option using Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210E engines was abandoned due to insufficient power output and to maintain design simplicity. The gearbox lubrication system features a redundant backup mechanism capable of sustaining over five hours of flight after primary system failure without incurring mechanical damage.
By early 2015, Airbus aimed for an initial operational availability rate surpassing 95 percent for the H160. The helicopter is equipped with the Helionix avionics suite, which includes four multifunction displays. Airbus partnered with Esterline CMC to develop avionics components such as the CMA-9000 Flight Management System and CMA-5024 GPS landing sensor, facilitating automated landing capabilities. A comprehensive flight simulator was created in collaboration with Helisim and Thales Group. The avionics architecture shares common elements with previous models like the Eurocopter EC145 T2 and Eurocopter EC175, embodying a family design philosophy akin to AgustaWestland's helicopter range.
Civilian
- H160
- Prototype civil version with three units produced.
- PT1 variant powered by PWC PT6 engines, which first flew on 13 June 2015.
- PT2 variant equipped with Safran Arrano engines, making its maiden flight on 27 January 2016.
- PT3 variant featuring an outfitted cabin interior, first flown on 13 October 2017.
- H160-B
- Certified civil production model as of July 2020.
Military
- H160M
- The standard military variant outfitted with the anti-ship Sea Venom missile system.
- HIL H160M Guépard
- (hélicoptère interarmées léger – Joint Light Helicopter) Created specifically for use by the French Armed Forces.