Airbus Helicopters H160 (formerly X4)

[TomS]

This is not new for France. It should work fine... Maybe the US Coast Guard will need new helicopters. B)

With the current MH-65 rebuilds, not until the mid-2030s, supposedly.

Airbus might persuade senior civilians with the USCG otherwise.

I really doubt there will be any money. There's a reason they didn't buy new this time around and not for the lack of wanting a new helo.

 

[RavenOne]

I attended Le Bourget for Paris Air Show 2010 so Here are my photos of the H160M mock up, below.

cheers

 

[RavenOne]

Also officially there is order for 4 x SAR platforms for the Aeronavale. The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) is to supply four H160s to the French Navy for search and rescue missions through a partnership between Airbus Helicopters, Babcock, and Safran Helicopter Engines.

Four H160s for the French Navy’s search and rescue missions

The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) is to supply four H160s to the French Navy for search and rescue missions through a partnership between Airbus Helicopters, Babcock, and Safran Helicopter Engines.

www.airbus.com

This suggests to me a Little of the UK COMR - Commercial Owned Military Rotorcraft..program

cheers

 

[TomcatViP]

Was there ever any RFP issued? IMOHO a Puplic/private partnership to fill a public service need would have legally required one.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Was there ever any RFP issued? IMOHO a Puplic/private partnership to fill a public service need would have legally required one.

"My Lord...is that legal?"

"I will make it legal."

 

[MihoshiK]

Was there ever any RFP issued? IMOHO a Puplic/private partnership to fill a public service need would have legally required one.

IIRC not for defense purposes. Any RFP related to Defense is a courtesy, and once issued must be followed, but an EU country can just say "I want that" and be done with it.

 

[TomcatViP]

Search & rescue is civilian. COMBAT Search & rescue is military. The French Navy field a public services mission for sea search & rescue. Those are not combat helo and does not constitue a defense sovereign force.

See here (In French) :

SAUVETAGE EN MER - snsm, crs, pompiers, marine, gendarmerie, douanes, securite civile

Sauvetage en mer : Tout un dossier synthétique sur l'organisation et le déroulement des opérations de secours sur notre littoral français. snsm, bnssa, bateau, marine, sauvetage en mer, mer, plage, plongee, gps, marine nationale, meteo, meteo france, secourisme, maritime, meteo marine, webcam...

sauvmer.free.fr

So we are where I said we were.

 

[MihoshiK]

Search & rescue is civilian. COMBAT Search & rescue is military. The French Navy field a public services mission for sea search & rescue. Those are not combat helo and does not constitue a defense sovereign force.

See here (In French) :

SAUVETAGE EN MER - snsm, crs, pompiers, marine, gendarmerie, douanes, securite civile

Sauvetage en mer : Tout un dossier synthétique sur l'organisation et le déroulement des opérations de secours sur notre littoral français. snsm, bnssa, bateau, marine, sauvetage en mer, mer, plage, plongee, gps, marine nationale, meteo, meteo france, secourisme, maritime, meteo marine, webcam...

sauvmer.free.fr

So we are where I said we were.

French. Navy.

That's defense. It might be a public service, but it still falls under the ministry of defense.

Also holy shit, that website comes straight out of the nineties.