Boeing receives final order for Block I Chinooks
The company has received a contract to produce 18 CH-47F Block I Chinooks for South Korea, as well as one additional aircraft for Spain
The orders are part of a US Department of Defense foreign military sale (FMS) with a total value of $793 million, and are the final aircraft to be ordered on the US government’s Block I CH-47F FMS contract.
Production and deliveries under the Block I contract will conclude once these final aircraft are delivered in 2027.
However, Boeing stated that efforts are already underway to begin deliveries under the new Block II CH-47 FMS contract. Currently, six aircraft are being manufactured under Block II with the US Army – the first of which will be delivered in 2024. Additionally, 36 will be delivered to the US Army Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and 14 will be sent to the UK.
The Block II Chinooks will provide increased lift and range compared with their Block I counterparts, due to an improved drivetrain, reinforced airframe, and redesigned fuel tanks.
Despite this, Block I Chinooks will continue to be supported ‘for years to come’, according to Heather McBryan, Vice President and Program Manager for the H-47. Both Block I and Block II aircraft are expected to coexist in the heavy-lift space for many years.
The Egyptian Air Force also announced its intention to purchase a fleet of 12 CH-47F Chinooks from Boeing earlier this year.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca was a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.