Airbus and Boeing to provide support for German Chinooks

Airbus and Boeing signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on 25 March for joint support of German H-47 Chinooks, as part of the German military’s Heavy Transport Helicopter (STH) procurement program.

The agreement was signed in Philadelphia by Torbjorn Sjogren, Vice President for Boeing Global Services, International Government and Defence, and Wolfgang Schoder, General Manager of Airbus Helicopters in Germany.

The agreement builds on the existing Chinook partnership team, which consists of AERO-Bildung, CAE Elektronik, Elektroniksystem und Logistik GmbH (ESG), Lufthansa Technik, Honeywell Aerospace and Rolls-Royce Deutschland.

Airbus says the partnership is intended to enhance German defense readiness over the coming decades, and will aim to provide maximum operational availability at the lowest costs over the lifecycle of the H-47 fleet. In addition, Boeing says it is committed to working with the German industry on ‘aircraft sustainment, including post-delivery modifications and installations, aircraft maintenance, supply chain services, training and logistical support, as well as the potential for sub-systems maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO) work.’

“The partnership with Airbus Helicopters reaffirms our commitment to strengthen cooperation with German industry,” said Dr Michael Haidinger, President of Boeing Germany. “With our Chinook offering and together with our German industry partners, we will create more than 500 highly skilled jobs in-country, all in direct support of the Bundeswehr’s heavy-lift mission requirements.”

Airbus Helicopters also began trialling the marine take-off and landing capabilities of its VSR700 unmanned aerial system (UAS) earlier this month using a modified Guimbal Cabri G2.