Germany has selected the Chinook CH-47F as its new heavy-lift transport helicopter for the German armed forces, the defense ministry announced.
“We weighed up the pros and cons and the risks and then unanimously decided on this model. The Chinook is modern and proven,” Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said in a statement on June 1, 2022.
The CH-47F Chinook was competing against Sikorsky’s CH-53K King Stallion for the German heavy-lift helicopter (STH) bid.
The order comprises 60 Chinook helicopters in the Block II range with air-to-air refuelling capability. The lower price meant more of the heavy-lift helicopters could be procured, the ministry added.
“With it, we are strengthening our cooperation abilities in Europe. Furthermore we are gaining a larger fleet with more flexibility,” Lambrecht said. The Chinook is already used by NATO partners, the ministry added.
Der CH-47F Chinook soll der neue schwere Transporthubschrauber für die #Bundeswehr werden. Mit diesem Modell stärken wir unsere Kooperationsfähigkeit in Europa. Er ist modern, erprobt & wird er bereits von #NATO-Partnern genutzt. Das Parlament muss dem noch zustimmen. pic.twitter.com/houOlAW2jj
— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) June 1, 2022
Manufacturer Boeing, which teamed up with Airbus for the bid, welcomed the decision.
“We look forward to working with the U.S. and German governments to finalize this sale under the Foreign Military Sales process,” Boeing commented. “We are committed to delivering maximum operational availability to the German Bundeswehr for decades to come.”
The Chinooks will replace Germany’s fleet of 70 Sikorsky CH-53G Sea Stallion helicopters. Germany commenced the tender in 2017 before suspending it in late 2020. It was revived in January 2021.
Germany is presenting details of a new defense budget plan on June 1, 2022. Chancellor Scholz earlier promised to send the IRIS-T SL air defense system to Ukraine.