First Airbus H160M prototype begins final assembly

The central fuselage of the first H160M prototype has been shipped to France. (Airbus Helicopters)

Final assembly is under way ofthe first of three Airbus Helicopters H160M prototypes that will be used to develop the military version of the platform under the Light Joint Helicopter (Hélicoptère Interarmées Léger: HIL) programme for the French Armed Forces.

This is taking place in parallel with ongoing system integration work including bench testing and in-flight aerodynamic testing.

The company announced the milestone on 19 July following the despatch of the first Major Component Assembly (MCA), the main fuselage, from its Donauwörth facility in Germany to the final assembly line in Marignane, southern France, on 4 July. The other three MCAs are the rotor blades manufactured at Paris le Bourget, the tailboom made in Albacete, Spain, and the main gear box built at Marignane. The first flight of this prototype is scheduled for 2025.

Integration and testing of systems for the H160M is continuing on a “system helicopter zero” test bench, which reproduces the cockpit of the aircraft, the company said. Systems that have already been delivered and integrated include the Thales TopOwl helicopter pilot head-up display helmet, an inertial navigation system, communication systems, and the global navigation satellite services (GNSS). Other equipment being integrated via the test bench are the Safran Euroflir 410 electro-optical system, the Thales FlytX flight deck avionics suite, and Airbus' HForce modular weapons system equipment.

An instrumented Airbus H160 prototype fitted with mock-ups of the sensors, communication antennas, electronic warfare systems, gun pod, and the landing gear of the H160M has been undergoing flight testing. This will confirm that these external additions to the form factor of the civilian model are in the correct position in terms of aerodynamic performance and airframe loading.