US Army speeds up CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopter fielding
October 2, 2025
The Army is accelerating its purchase of upgraded Block II Chinooks as the service prepares for large-scale combat operations. These aircraft offer increased payload, longer range, and other improvements.
US Army accelerates adoption of Chinook Block II helicopters
The United States Army announced it is speeding up the procurement of heavy lift CH-47F Block II helicopters, having authorized the procurement of the type for Fiscal Year 2026 and Fiscal Year 2027. The first Block II Chinooks were delivered to the Army in mid-2024.
When combined with previously approved procurements, the Army will field Block II Chinooks in two Combat Aviation Brigades (each has 12 CH-47 helicopters). It is unclear how many aircraft will be covered under this rapid fielding effort. The most recent Army acquisition of the helicopter came in December 2024, when it purchased three.
While the Chinook is fundamentally an aging airframe (it first entered service in 1962 ), it has been continuously updated, and there are no immediate plans for its replacement. The War Zone reported in 2024 that the Army had only recently begun early work on setting the stage for what would likely be a tiltrotor replacement.
#Germany cleared to buy 60 @BoeingDefense CH-47F #Chinook helos for $8.5 bn, up from approx $5.5 bn when selection made in June 2022. https://t.co/JKTXH4xW3Q pic.twitter.com/mTKcHpp35Q
— Gareth Jennings (@GarethJennings3) May 11, 2023
The Chinook continues to be “the” heavy lift rotor aircraft for the US and its allies. One unspecified partner nation (likely Germany) has committed to 60 Block II helicopters, while others have expressed interest in purchasing the upgraded variant. The US approved the possible sale of six Chinooks to the UAE in May 2025.
Boeing’s Block II incremental upgrades
The Army says Block II upgrades existing Block I aircraft “through a recapitalization process.” Block II offers increased payloads, extended range, and other incremental improvements.
The Army claims that missions that currently require two sorties with Block I can be completed with just one Block II sortie. Block IIs come with an increased maximum gross weight of 54,000 lbs.
Boeing is currently manufacturing three types of military helicopters: the MH-139, the AH-64 Apache, and the CH-47 Chinook. Boeing both manufactures new Apaches and Chinooks, and it overhauls and rebuilds older airframes.
Thank you, @USArmy, for your commitment to the Chinook helicopter and your decision to rapidly field the CH-47F Block II.
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) October 1, 2025
Block II delivers the increased lift and range the Army needs and will pave the way for future modernization.
📸: U.S. Army
More: https://t.co/d0GusXcz2h pic.twitter.com/6z1TUs91Ab
In 2024, Boeing delivered 16 new and 34 “remanufactured” Apaches. Over the same period, it delivered four new and nine “renewed” Chinooks. In the first half of 2025, Boeing delivered one new and seven renewed Chinooks.
US Army Aviation’s massive helicopter fleet
At one time, the US Army boasted the most powerful air force in the world. That came to an end in 1947 when the USAAF was dissolved and the US Air Force was formed as a separate service branch.
Almost all of the Army’s aircraft were transferred to the Air Force. The Army soon found it needed aircraft and so had to build a new aviation branch virtually from scratch. Eventually, a 1966 agreement between the Air Force and Army permitted the Army to operate rotor-wing and administrative aircraft.
Today, the US Army boasts the world’s most formidable helicopter-based air force. According to FlightGlobal, the Army operates 824 AH-64 Apaches, around 500 CH-47 Chinooks, 2,276 UH-60 Black Hawks, and around 400 UH-72 Lakotas, along with various other types of aircraft.
Bell is the tiltrotor expert. And with the MV-75 #FLRAA, we’re redefining what’s possible for the @USArmy's future missions.
— Bell (@BellFlight) August 7, 2025
Discover how: https://t.co/YQAZDGS4vN pic.twitter.com/6H4l3LY3uc
The Bell MV-75 (formerly V-280 Valor) tiltrotor is set to start partially replacing the Black Hawks beginning in the early 2030s.
