US State Department approves sale of CH-47F Chinook helicopter to Australia

The US State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale to the government of Australia.

The possible sale of CH-47F Chinook helicopters and related equipment has an estimated cost of $259million.

The government of Australia has requested to buy four CH-47F cargo helicopters with unique modifications: eight T55-GA-714A aircraft turbine engines, five AN/AAR-57 common missile warning systems, eight embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems and two Eagle +429 embedded GPS/inertial navigation systems.

The sale includes mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, spare parts and components, special tools and test equipment, publications and technical manuals, US government and contractor engineering, maintenance and technical and logistical support services.

The proposed sale will improve Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats, increase operational readiness, strengthen its homeland defence and promote military cooperation.

The aircraft will be provided from US army stock.

According to Shephard Defence Insight, the CH-47F model provides situational awareness through the common avionics architecture system, crew safety through the digital advanced flight control system and reduced maintenance requirements through the machined airframe.

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