Boeing receives CH-47ER delivery order for UK
The RAF currently operates CH-47D Chinooks, designated HC Mk2. (Photo: MoD/Crown Copyright)
OEM Boeing will deliver the first of 14 heavy-lift CH-47ER aircraft to the RAF in 2026.
The US DoD on 22 June officially announced a $580.6 million delivery order for Boeing from US Special Operations Command, under a broader $1.97 billion FMS deal to provide the UK with 14 new Chinook helicopters.
‘This modification exercises an option that was awarded on an existing delivery order,’ the DoD noted.
The RAF revealed last month that Boeing will begin to deliver the heavy-lift CH-47ER aircraft from 2026. They will be based at RAF Odiham.
Shephard Defence Insight forecasts that delivery of the CH-47ERs to the RAF is expected to be completed by the end of 2030.
The RAF noted on 13 May that it is retiring the oldest CH-47Ds in its fleet, ‘enabling investment in the new aircraft to modernise the UK heavy-lift capability’.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics]()
AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics
The US Air Force is evaluating demonstrators for uncrewed cargo missions as it considers logistics requirements across the Pacific and other contested environments.
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
-
![AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX]()
AFA 2026: Swarm Aero eyes 2027 Gamera flight as Textron/Merlin reveal SkyCourier UX
Two new uncrewed aircraft concepts target very different US military requirements, from massed long-range strike to autonomous logistics. Shephard spoke with executives from Swarm Aero, Textron Aviation and Merlin Labs at this year's AFA Air, Space & Cyber conference to learn more about their capabilities.
