GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Boeing is to restart production of Chinook heavylift helicopters after receiving a $151 million US Army order for seven new-build CH-47Fs. The aircraft will replace operational losses, and the US Army is expected to acquire additional new-build CH-47Fs to increase its Chinook fleet.
Deliveries will restart in April 2006, and the aircraft will be produced alongside CH-47Ds being remanufactured to CH-47F standard. The first remanufactured CH-47F is scheduled to be delivered to the US Army in September/October next year.
Boeing is under contract to remanufacture 26 CH-47Ds - one to CH-47F standard and the rest to MH-47G standard for US Army special operations forces. The first remanufactured MH-47G will be delivered in April next year.
A further 12 MH-47Gs are planned in the 26-aircraft third production lot, completing a programme to double the special-forces' Chinook fleet. The existing fleet of 23 MH-47Es and 11 MH-47Ds will be upgraded to Gs later in the programme.
The US Army, meanwhile, plans to modernise 300 CH-47Ds to F standard at a rate of two a month, and Congress has directed the service to study increasing the rate and remanufacturing the remaining 160-plus aircraft.
Boeing says the contract to build new aircraft will reduce unit costs and make the Chinook more competitive internationally. Turkey is expected to relaunch its competition for heavylift helicopters and the UK could also require additional aircraft.
Source: Flight International
