Chinook programme reaches 50 year milestone
Boeing has marked the 50th anniversary of delivering the first H-47 Chinook military helicopter, having delivered more than 1,200 Chinooks to 18 operators around the world since delivering the first to the US Army in 1962. The company made the announcement on 16 August.
Boeing said that global demand for the latest model of the Chinook aircraft, the CH-47F, remains strong, with the company nearing completion of a $130 million renovation of its production line near Philadelphia that will help it meet this demand.
More than 800 Chinook helicopters are in operation today, conducting combat, cargo transport and humanitarian relief missions. Chinook is Boeing’s longest continuously running production programme, and the production line updates will enable Boeing to continue to ‘affordably increase’ Chinook production rates.
Boeing is scheduled to deliver nearly 60 Chinooks this year and has submitted a multiyear, firm fixed-price proposal to the Department of Defense to provide 155 CH-47Fs to the US Army with deliveries beginning in 2015.
Col Bob Marion, US Army cargo helicopter programme manager, commented on the milestone, saying: ‘The latest F-model has ushered in a new era of heavy-lift capability for the US Army. With continued technology insertions, I fully expect that 50 years from now there will be a centennial celebration for Chinooks still in service.’
More from Defence Helicopter
-
DSEI 2023: Lockheed to produce about 40% of Black Hawks on UK soil if it wins NMH contest
Lockheed Martin promises a boost to the British job market and export opportunities, while strengthening ties with Poland and positioning the UK for a future in rotorcraft technology in the event of a New Medium Helicopter competition triumph.
-
KAI and Airbus Helicopters ink a supply contract for LAH and KUH helicopters
Airbus Helicopters and KAI have agreed a contract covering the supply of helicopter components for the latter over the next decade.
-
Dart Aerospace to supply high-lift heliporter to US Navy
The Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) is has been awarded an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the US DoD to provide a high-lift heliporter designed and manufactured by Dart Aerospace to the USN.
-
Indonesia signs MoU for S-70M Black Hawks
The Indonesian military has turned its sights on S-70M Black Hawk helicopters, with the service never having bought platforms from Sikorsky before.
-
Industry awarded new contracts for Australian and US Apache attack helicopter work
Longbow LLC and Lockheed Martin have received new contracts to supply Longbow fire control radars to Australia, and refurbish US Army Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (TADS/PNVS) equipment. Both systems equip the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.