Boeing will complete the upgrade of six Egyptian air force CH-47C Chinooks to US Army CH-47D standard by 2003 and expects to sign a follow-on contract for a further six conversions by the end of the year.
Egypt received four new-build CH-47Ds in 1999 and if the follow-on deal is completed, two aircraft will be handed over in 2003 and four more the following year.
Egypt bought 15 CH-47C Chinooks in 1980 and three are likely to remain in the fleet as maintenance trainers.
"Modernisation of the Egyptian air force Chinooks means that almost the entire worldwide CH-47 inventory will be -D models or later configuration," says Pat Shanahan, vice-president and general manager, Boeing Army Programs and Rotorcraft.
Source: Flight Daily News
