Mil-Log
SGA2012: Boeing confident in heavy lift offerings
Boeing is looking at upgrades for its heavy lift CH-47 helicopter and C-17 transport aircraft in order for them to continue being what a company official describes as 'the best in their class'.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Singapore Airshow on 15 February, Tommy Dunehew, VP of business development for mobility for Boeing said: 'We are constantly focused on fuel efficiency.'
He also explained that the company is looking at new rotor blades for the Chinook that 'will increase the lift capability of the helicopter by one ton', and said Boeing is working with the US Army to develop them, and that a retrofit option will be available on already developed platforms. 'This is one that's a runner and everybody's happy with it,' he explained.
The company is also looking into 'future high speed communications taking protected data and communications to the next level', Dunehew said.
He pointed out that 'a C-17 will operate anywhere a C-130J will', and said the Boeing platform can carry more cargo than the Lockheed Martin equivalent, 'yet operates in exactly the same space'.
He also compared it to Airbus Military's A400M, explaining that the size of the C-17 is advantageous because it can carry 18 pallets of cargo in comparison to Airbus' nine and Lockheed Martin's 7.5. Currently, Boeing has orders on contract to keep the C-17 line open through third quarter 2014 and is hoping for further business.
Referring to the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, during which CH-47s from several countries aided in transporting people and supplies, Dunehew said: 'They [the aircraft] found people that otherwise wouldn't have survived the earthquake.'
He said that the nature of the climate in the Asia-Pacific region leads to this type of natural disaster and requires humanitarian relief, which is why the Chinook would be suitable for militaries in the area.
'It's not a special mission, it's not a one off; it's routine,' he explained, and prided the company on being on cost and on schedule with all of its orders for both platforms.
'Once you get them they sell themselves; you will come back for more,' he concluded, and said that there are some 20 'active campaigns' under way for both platforms at the present time.
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