First CH-47 Block II Chinook delivered to US Army
Boeing has delivered the inaugural CH-47 Block II Chinook to the US Army, the first of up to 465 aircraft to be modernised to the new configuration, with five further…
July 1, 2024
Boeing has delivered the inaugural CH-47 Block II Chinook to the US Army, the first of up to 465 aircraft to be modernised to the new configuration, with five further US Army aircraft currently under contract to the new specification.
Featuring an improved drivetrain, a reinforced airframe and an enhanced fuel system, the CH-47 Block II offers an additional 4,000 lbs of maximum gross weight and extends the mission radius for nearly all payloads. The aircraft’s design also enables future technology upgrades.
“This modernisation programme enables the battle-tested Chinook to play a key role in multi-domain operations going forward,” commented Heather McBryan, vice president and programme manager, Cargo Programs.
The latest iteration of the multi-mission, tandem rotor helicopter is described by Boeing as “the most advanced and capable heavy-lift aircraft in its class” and the “only way to meet the warfighter’s ever-evolving needs”. The contract to develop the next-generation Chinook for the US Army conventional and special ops forces was awarded to Boeing in 2017, with the Army awarding Boeing a $136 million contract for the first four Block II aircraft in 2021.
The final Block I aircraft contract (consisting of 18 units for South Korea and one for Spain) was signed in July 2023, with aircraft to be delivered in 2027; after which Boeing’s new builds will focus solely on the Block II standard. However, both variants will continue to co-exist around the world in the heavy lift space.
Alongside the six Block II upgrades on order to the US Army, 14 further units are under contract with the United Kingdom and another 36 with the US Army Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which has been receiving Block II aircraft for several years.
