Airbus has handed over the first H160 helicopter to France’s Gendarmerie Nationale, marking the start of a multi-aircraft law-enforcement fleet renewal that will bring the new twin-engine type into national security operations. The delivery milestone is prompting the Gendarmerie to ready new operational concepts and training for H160 deployments across France, while Airbus simultaneously builds the type’s global footprint with contracts including an Australian order secured by logistics group Linfox.
First H160 handover to the Gendarmerie Nationale
Airbus Helicopters has formally confirmed that the first H160 for the Gendarmerie Nationale has been delivered, identifying the aircraft as the initial example of the type to join the French national gendarmerie fleet and the launch platform for a broader renewal of its rotary-wing assets. In its announcement, Airbus describes the handover as a key step in bringing the H160 into national security operations, underlining that the twin-engine helicopter is moving from development and certification into frontline service for a high-profile public-security customer, which raises the stakes for performance, reliability and support.
The aircraft is also the first H160 to be operated by the Gendarmerie Nationale, a status highlighted in detailed coverage of the milestone by AeroTime’s report on the first Gendarmerie delivery, which frames the handover as a fleet-launch moment for the law-enforcement agency. Specialist rotorcraft reporting confirms that the Gendarmerie has physically taken delivery of the helicopter and is preparing it for operational service, with RotorHub’s article on the first H160 noting that aviation units are now transitioning from acceptance to pre-deployment checks, a shift that signals the start of a new era for aerial policing and public-safety missions across French territory.
Operational readiness and mission role for French law enforcement
Following the first delivery milestone, the Gendarmerie Nationale is moving quickly to ready its units for H160 operations, with planning focused on integrating the helicopter into existing law-enforcement and public-security frameworks. According to FlightGlobal’s coverage of Gendarmerie H160 readiness, the force is aligning pilot conversion, maintenance training and mission-system familiarisation so that the new type can enter service in a structured way, reducing disruption to current patrol and response duties while still exploiting the H160’s advanced capabilities.
Airbus states that the Gendarmerie intends to assign the H160 to a spectrum of law-enforcement and public-security missions, including surveillance, search and rescue, border security, and rapid response to incidents that require fast aerial intervention, as detailed in Airbus’s press release on the first Gendarmerie H160. Reporting on the handover adds that the helicopter will support tasks such as tracking suspects, monitoring large public events and assisting ground units in complex terrain, while RotorHub’s article highlights that the H160 introduces new operational flexibility and endurance compared with legacy platforms, a change that could allow the Gendarmerie to sustain longer missions and cover wider areas with fewer aircraft rotations.
Technical and capability features of the H160 platform
Airbus describes the H160 as a twin-engine, multi-mission helicopter designed to bridge civil and parapublic roles, a configuration that is directly relevant to the Gendarmerie’s mix of policing, rescue and security tasks. In its overview of the type, Airbus’s description of the H160 emphasises features such as advanced aerodynamics, a modern avionics suite and a cabin adaptable to different mission layouts, all of which are intended to give operators a platform that can switch quickly between patrol, transport and emergency-response configurations, reducing fleet complexity and improving utilisation.
Performance and onboard systems are expected to play a central role in how the Gendarmerie employs the H160 for surveillance, search and rescue and rapid response, with AeroTime’s report on the first Gendarmerie delivery noting that the helicopter’s capabilities are tailored to demanding public-safety profiles. FlightGlobal’s reporting on operational readiness explains that the Gendarmerie’s aircraft will be fitted with mission-specific equipment such as an electro-optical sensor turret, a searchlight and secure communications systems, as outlined in its coverage of H160 operational preparations, a combination that should enhance situational awareness for crews and improve coordination with ground units during time-critical interventions.
Programme timeline, fleet plans, and next steps in France
The first delivery sits within a broader introduction timeline that will see the H160 progressively replace older helicopters in the Gendarmerie Nationale’s fleet, with entry-into-service steps structured around training, certification and phased deployment. According to FlightGlobal’s reporting on the programme timeline, the Gendarmerie is sequencing simulator work, flight training and operational evaluations so that the type can be cleared for core missions in stages, a strategy that reduces risk while allowing crews to build experience on the new platform before it takes on the most demanding assignments.
Airbus’s dedicated announcement on the Gendarmerie contract sets out how many H160s are on order and how deliveries are expected to be phased, indicating that the initial aircraft is part of a multi-unit acquisition that will be rolled out over several years, as detailed in the Gendarmerie H160 press release. Follow-on reporting by RotorHub points to upcoming milestones that include expanded pilot and technician training, national certification steps for mission equipment and the first operational deployments to key regions, developments that will determine how quickly the H160 becomes a visible presence in French skies and how effectively it can support day-to-day law-enforcement operations.
Global market context: H160 adoption beyond France
The Gendarmerie Nationale delivery also fits into Airbus’s wider strategy for the H160, which is being positioned as a versatile platform for both public and private operators in multiple regions. In parallel with the French law-enforcement programme, Airbus has secured the first Australian order for the type from logistics company Linfox, with Airbus’s announcement of the first Australian H160 order describing how the helicopter will support commercial and logistics roles, a contrast that underscores the model’s appeal across mission segments ranging from policing and rescue to corporate transport and cargo support.
Coverage of the Gendarmerie milestone by AeroTime links the French law-enforcement deployment to the H160’s growing international footprint, noting that each new contract helps build a broader operator base and supports Airbus’s efforts to expand the model’s presence in both public and private sectors. By placing a high-visibility national security customer alongside a commercial logistics operator such as Linfox, Airbus is signalling that the H160 is intended to be a global, multi-role platform, a positioning that could influence future procurement decisions by other governments and companies looking for a modern, twin-engine helicopter that can be tailored to their specific operational needs.
