The UAE strikes a pricey Chinook deal
May 14, 2025
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to receive six additional Boeing CH-47F Chinook Block II extended-range (ER) heavy-lift helicopters, following a US State Department determination approving a possible US $1.32 billion Foreign Military Sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates. This was announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on 12 May.
A previous 2019 approval for ten similarly-configured helicopters was valued at US $830.3 million, making the new approval look much more expensive.
The UAE’s joint, tri-service helicopter force, Joint Aviation Command (JAC), formed in 2012, and controls and operates most UAE military helicopters, and some fixed wing assets. Group 25 is based at Sas al Nakhil-Umm an Nar (UAE) and operates some 20-22 CH-47Fs. Eight older CH-47C+ variants are believed to have been withdrawn from service.
The UAE was the first export customer for the latest CH-47F variant. Four helicopters were delivered in 2010 and 16 more followed from 2014. In November 2019 the US $830.3 million sale of ten more was approved, but none were delivered. Instead two further CH-47F Chinooks were added to the Group 25 inventory bringing the total fleet to 22.
Under the latest approval, the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) requested to buy six CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters with air-to-air refuelling probe capability, internal Extended Range Fuel Systems (ERFS), and extended range ‘fat’ fuel tanks. The aircraft would be powered by T55-GA-714A engines and each armed with three M-240 machine guns (18 installed, with two spares).
They will be equipped with WESCAM MX-15HDi electro-optical/infrared imaging systems, Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) devices with M-Code, AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems, AN/ARC-231A communications security (COMSEC) radios, AN/APR-39A radar warning receivers, AN/AVR-2B Laser Detecting Sets (LDS), AN/ARC-220 high frequency (HF) radios, KY-100M COMSEC terminals, AN/ARN-153 Tactical Airborne Navigation System (TACAN) radios, AN/APN-209 radar altimeters, AN/APX-123A identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders, and KIV-77 COMSEC IFF cryptographic appliqués. The proposed deal also includes firefighting equipment, ballistic armour protection systems, airworthiness support, spare and repair parts, communications equipment, personnel training and training equipment, site surveys, tool and test equipment, ground support equipment, repair and return services, publications and technical documentation, Quality Assurance Team (QAT), US Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services and other related elements of logistics and programme support.
Implementation of this sale will require an estimated two US Government and eight contractor representatives to travel to the UAE for up to sixty months for equipment de-processing, fielding, system checkout, training, and technical logistics support.
The DSCA notification said that: “The proposed sale will improve the United Arab Emirates’ capability to meet current and future threats by extending its range of flight operations. The UAE will use these assets in search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations. The United Arab Emirates will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces.”
The principal contractors will be Boeing Helicopter Aircraft Company, located in Ridley Park, PA, and the Honeywell Engine Company, located in Phoenix, AZ.
