The U.S. Army ordered three additional CH-47F Block II Chinooks from Boeing. The Lot 3 contract award, valued at $135 million, is a part of the U.S. Army’s ongoing modernization efforts. This contract award follows the U.S. Army’s February announcement that it is moving forward with full-rate production of the CH-47F Block II program. To date, Boeing is under contract for nine of up to 465 aircraft in the Army’s current fleet. The Army has also received funding from the U.S. Congress for three aircraft as part of the next production lot and awarded Boeing a contract last year for acquisition of long lead parts.
“It is critical soldiers get to their destinations and have the equipment they need to accomplish the mission,” said Heather McBryan, vice president and program manager, Boeing Cargo Programs. “The CH-47F Block II’s increased payload capacity and expanded range enables the U.S. Army to meet evolving heavy-lift mission requirements around the world.”
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a tandem-rotor helicopter originally developed by American rotorcraft company Vertol and now manufactured by Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The Chinook is a heavy-lift helicopter that is among the heaviest lifting Western helicopters. Its name, Chinook, is from the Native American Chinook people of Oregon and Washington state. The military version of the helicopter has been exported to nations across the world; the U.S. Army and the Royal Air Force (see Boeing Chinook (UK variants)) have been its two largest users. A CH-47F Block 2 is being implemented as of 2020.
Boeing delivered the first production CH-47F Block II aircraft to the Army in June followed by the second in September. With improvements to the drivetrain and airframe, the CH-47F Block II configuration is stronger adding 4,000 pounds to the max gross weight of the aircraft and significantly increasing lift capability. Additionally, innovative changes to the fuel system extend the mission radius of nearly all payloads. Combined with enhanced sustainment and the ability to make affordable future upgrades, the CH-47F Block II will meet the Army’s desired goal of flying for at least another 40 years.
