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Eurosatory 2026: The H160M’s agnostic approach to drones draws global interest

16th June 2026 - 15:45 GMT | by Harry McNeil in Paris, France

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The helicopter generated interest at the show. (Photo: author)

As Airbus Helicopters advances its H160M Guépard programme towards targeted first delivery in late 2028 for the French Army, the platform’s “agnostic” approach to drone integration could offer a window into how Western militaries are rethinking the relationship between crewed rotorcraft and uncrewed systems.

Vincent Chenot, head of the H160M programme, was continually interrupted by curious bystanders as he spoke to Shephard while standing in front of a H160M Guépard mock-up in the helicopter area at Eurosatory 2026.

“You just have to stand up there and look at all the people interested in the aircraft,” he told Shephard at the show. “I’m not talking about people just having a look, but people really interested. You have all the regions – America, north and south, Africa, Southeast Asia, and obviously several countries in Europe.”

That reported breadth of interest reflects something wider than one programme’s

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Harry McNeil

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Harry McNeil


Harry McNeil is Shephard's Naval Reporter. Before joining, he spent almost two years as an …

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