The United States Army awarded Boeing a contract ordering four new and upgraded CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters on October 4, 2021.
The contract valued at $136 million is the US Army’s first step towards fleet modernization to ensure preparedness for future heavy-lift rotor operations.
The first batch of the upgraded Chinook helicopters will be delivered in 2023.
The US Army also signed an advance procurement contract with Boeing worth $29 million for the second production lot of the Block II Chinook helicopters.
“This is a big step in Chinook modernization, supporting the Army’s future multi-domain vision,” said Andy Builta, vice president of cargo and utility helicopters and H-47 program manager. “The Block II technologies will drive commonality across the fleet and enable our soldiers to return home safely for decades.”
The CH-47 Chinook is a twin-engined heavy-lift tandem-rotor helicopter, having one of the highest heavy lifting capabilities in the western rotor aircraft spectrum.
The Chinook’s initial operations conducted by the US Army can be dated back to the Vietnam War.
The new Block II Chinook helicopters feature various upgrades intended to provide additional lift capability and reduce maintenance costs.
The H-47 Chinook helicopter is currently operated by 22 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Egypt, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Libya, Morroco, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.