(Update: Airbus details on the contract)
PARIS (Agefi-Dow Jones) – The French Ministry of the Armed Forces announced on Wednesday that it had notified Airbus of a contract worth 10 billion euros for the supply of 169 helicopters to the French armed forces.
“The 169 aircraft ordered will be distributed between the Army (80), the National Navy (49) and the Air and Space Army (40). Deliveries will begin in 2027”, specified the ministry in a press release.
Airbus said for its part that the contract provided for the development of several prototypes and the delivery of a first batch of 30 aircraft. Airbus will also provide the support and training system and ensure maintenance in operational condition.
The new helicopter, dubbed “Guépard” by the French Army, will be a military version of the H160 marketed by Airbus. The aircraft was selected in 2017 as part of the Light Joint Helicopter (HIL) program, the launch of which, initially scheduled for 2022, was anticipated by one year.
This program aims to replace with a single model the five types of helicopters currently used by the armed forces for combat, intelligence, operational light transport, support, training and public service missions.
The concept of a “single fleet” will make it possible to pool development costs between the three armies. It will also make it possible to optimize support by benefiting from scale effects, for example on stocks of spare parts, said the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
This program will perpetuate 2,000 jobs and ensure the industrial activity of the Airbus Helicopters site in Marignane for the next 15 years, the ministry also indicated. The first productions will start in 2024.
-François Schott, Agefi-Dow Jones; 01 41 27 47 92; [email protected] ed: JEB-TVA
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December 22, 2021 13:02 ET (18:02 GMT)