French Defense Procurement Agency Receives Medium Helicopter for Security Operations

Airbus Helicopters has delivered the first H160 medium helicopter to France’s Gendarmerie Nationale, marking a significant milestone in the delivery of this order. The handover took place on December 16, 2025, at Airbus’ Marignane site in southern France. According to AeroTime, the aircraft was delivered to the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) on behalf of the Ministry of the Interior. The H160 is part of an initial order for 10 helicopters placed in December 2021 and will operate alongside existing H145 and AS350 helicopters. Both platforms share Airbus Helicopters’ Helionix avionics suite, simplifying pilot training, maintenance, and fleet management. The Gendarmerie Nationale’s acceptance and operational entry process is expected to extend into 2026.