Airbus Helicopters to ramp H160 output to 60 per year as M‑standard military variant nears 2028 introduction

Airbus Helicopters is expanding H160 production at its Marignane plant, targeting up to 60 aircraft per year as more than 50 H160s are already operational. The ramp prepares for first French military deliveries and the M‑standard H160 variant, which Airbus aims to field in 2028.

Discovered 2025-10-15T14:03:51.666936-07:00 | 2025-10-15T14:03:51.666936-07:00

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What Hype is tracking

Airbus plans to boost H160 output to as many as 60 aircraft per year at Marignane, with more than 50 already in service and first military deliveries imminent; the programme is preparing for M‑standard operational introduction in 2028 (see H160M flight testing: https://hype.aero/?story=d1f51f2c-dfb0-49c5-9a27-6b98b2e34b93).
The ramp comes amid wider Airbus production pressures and component bottlenecks — including about 60 A320neo "gliders" awaiting engines — which highlights supply‑chain risks suppliers and tier‑1s must manage: https://hype.aero/?story=44c8a31e-66f3-48f6-8893-48c48547e3a4.
Scaling H160 output will affect industrial partnerships, sourcing and MRO planning across the helicopter sector; recent European helicopter supply‑chain collaborations provide relevant context: https://hype.aero/?story=62293af1-368c-4627-9789-afe4271fbabe.

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