Airbus selects Thales' integrated electronic standby instrument for civil and military helicopter line

PARIS - Airbus Helicopters in Marigane, France, needed an integrated electronic standby instrument (IESI) for its new line of civilian and military vertical lift aircraft. They found their solution from Thales in Paris.

Thales will provide their third-generation IESI Airbus' H135, H145, H160 dual and H175 helicopter. Progressive entry into service will begin in 2026.

On a helicopter, the IESI must be able to withstand high levels of vibration and electromagnetic interference as well as offer the pilot optimal readability in all circumstances, especially when using night vision goggles. In a single piece of equipment, the IESI incorporates pressure probes and sensors, accelerometers and gyrometers, which form an artificial horizon, as well as an LCD display, and provides the pilot with the vital speed, altitude and attitude information needed for safe flying. The third-generation IESI from Thales also offers enhanced reliability and a smaller environmental footprint, thanks to 25% lower weight and 33% lower power consumption compared to the first generation.

The first IESI will enter service in 2027 on the Guépard joint light helicopter, the military version of the H160; it will follow the entry into service of the IESI on the Airbus H135, H145, H160 civil and H175 helicopters, scheduled for early 2026.

“The Thales teams are delighted to have been selected by Airbus Helicopters. Tens of thousands of pilots around the world rely every day and in all circumstances on this safety-critical equipment, which our engineers were first to invent and which has again today demonstrated its importance,” Jean-Paul Ebanga, Vice President, flight avionics, Thales, says.