Rescue at sea: the 32F flotilla and the brand new H160s able to take the alert in Hyères | Sea and Navy

Lower than a yr after its reactivation on the Lanvéoc-Poulmic BAN, on June 29, 2023, the 32F flotilla ended its deployment with its third and last location, in Hyères, on the coast of the Mediterranean land On Thursday June 27, a ceremony will formally mark the transfer of the SPI warning from 35F to 32F. “The rescue, safety and intervention alert (SPI) is a system of the French Navy that ensures maritime safety within the space via naval aviation assets stored on alert 24 hours a day. Also referred to as SAR alert (search and rescue), this mission was the 35F flotilla on the Mediterranean coast for 26 years,” defined the French Navy.

The 32F is supplied with six new H160 helicopters, leased from a consortium bringing collectively Airbus Helicopters, Babcock and Safran. Lasting 10 years, the contract was notified on the finish of 2019 as a part of the creation of an interim fleet of helicopters whereas ready for the longer term arrival of the Guépard Marine, which is not going to begin deliveries earlier than 2029. After leaving the Airbus Helicopters last. meeting line in Marignane after which transformed to the wants of the French Navy on the Babcock web site in Cannet-des-Maures, the H160s had been delivered between November 2022 and February 2024. Cherbourg was the primary operational group for rescue missions at Maupertus sea, the place H160 took over on 21 July 2023 from the Caïman Marine (NH90) of the 33F based mostly on the tip of the Cotentin. The switchover between the 2 forms of gear for SAR missions then happened on December 14 at Lanvéoc-Poulmic.

Of the six H160s now accessible for naval aviation, one is predicated in Cherbourg-Maupertus, two in Hyères and the opposite in Lanvéoc-Poulmic, the place the 32F is predicated.

In whole, 13 adjustments have been made in comparison with the civilian model of the H160, together with the combination of army communications, the Euroflir 410S optronic ball from Safran, weapons scales, a console for the operator within the cabin and a medical wall for medical evacuations . The machines are additionally able to evening flights utilizing evening imaginative and prescient binoculars.