The H160M Guépard prototype has made its first contact with a French Navy surface ship, according to AeroTime reports. The helicopter conducted an 'interaction of opportunity' with the fleet replenishment tanker BRF Jacques Stosskopf, testing electromagnetic environment capabilities.
The French Navy has selected the Pilatus PC-24 Super Versatile Jet to become its first European military operator. The aircraft will be procured from Pilatus and leased by Jet Aviation France.
France's Navy has received the final Dassault-Breguet Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft upgraded to Standard 6 configuration, as part of a modernization effort designed to keep the fleet operational into the next decade. The handover took place on February 17, 2026, when France's defense procurement agency, the DGA, delivered the aircraft to the Marine nationale.
The French Directorate General of Armament has ordered a new version of Airbus Helicopters' Aliaca drone system, which will feature vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in May 2026.
France has awarded Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group a production contract for six VSR700 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) under the SDAM program. The French Navy plans to begin operating them from 2028.