×

Maintenance Repair & Overhaul Space Air Cargo

Home- Stories

UK RAF to be First International Block II Chinook Operator

Atul Chandra - : Jun 23, 2021 - : 2:16 pm

Boeing has been awarded a $599 million Foreign Military Sales contract by the  U.S. Special Operations Command to deliver 14 extended-range Block II Chinook helicopters to the UK Royal Air Force (RAF).

The sale has been approved by the U.S. Department of State and the United Kingdom will be the first international operator of a Block II Chinook.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026.

“These Chinooks are the future of heavy-lift, built on an existing foundation of advanced capability and life cycle affordability,” said Andy Builta, Boeing vice president and H-47 program manager. “This contract for Block II aircraft sets the stage for the next 60 years of Chinook excellence on the battlefield.”

With a top speed of 300 kilometres per hour, the new Block II Chinooks will have a range of new capabilities, including; advanced digital cockpit, modernised airframe to increase stability and improve survivability and a Digital Automatic Flight Control System to allow pilots to hover in areas of limited visibility

The extended range Block II Chinooks will provide the RAF fleet with more versatility to execute the domestic and international heavy-lift missions.

Boeing and the RAF recently celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first Chinook delivery to the UK.

Boeing will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Chinook’s first flight later this year.

The Chinook fleet for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) supports more than 450 highly skilled jobs across the UK. Boeing colleagues provide maintenance and services support at Gosport, MOD Boscombe Down, and are embedded alongside the military at RAF Odiham.

Boeing has more than 4,600 employees in Pennsylvania supporting the Chinook, the V-22 Osprey, the MH-139A Grey Wolf and a number of services and engineering efforts.

Including suppliers and vendors, Boeing’s activities support an estimated 16,000 jobs in Pennsylvania.

Click Here to read the latest issue of Asian Defence Technology

MORE NEWS

Headquartered in Singapore with reporters spread across all major regions, GBP Aerospace & Defence is a leading media house that publishes three publications that serve the aerospace and defence sector - Asian Defence Technology, Asian Airlines & Aerospace and Daily News. Known industry-wide for quality journalism, GBP Aerospace & Defence is present at more international tradeshows and exhibitions than any other competing publication in the region.
For over three decades, our award-winning team of reporters has been producing top-notch content to help readers stay abreast of the latest developements in the field of commercial aviation, MRO, defence, and Space.

Popular Posts

Copyright 2024. GBP. All Rights Reserved.

Home Defence & Security Space Commercial Aviation Maintence Repair & Overhaul Daily News Events About Us