Boeing has been encouraged by moves within the US Congress and US Army Special Operations Forces that could significantly bolster the planned number of MH-47G Chinook helicopters.
This comes at a time when the company's backlog for new-build heavylift helicopters is dwindling.
The US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) wants to double the size of its MH-47 fleet to 72helicopters, but has still to secure approval and funding for the expansion.
In the shorter term, a key Congressional committee has amended next year's defence budget to make it possible to fund an additional three new Chinooks for the special forces.
The helicopters were added as replacements for recent losses in Afghanistan and the Philippines, which have depleted the 160th SOAR's fleet of 26 MH-47Es and 11 less-capable MH-47Ds. At least two MH-47s have been destroyed and as many as two have been badly damaged in Afghanistan, maybe beyond repair.
The army is also negotiating to buy from Singapore six US-based CH-47Ds as interim replacements (Flight International, 16-22 April).
This leaves the army seeking another 31 new MH-47Gs as well as new avionics for its remaining MH-47D/Es.
The 160th SOAR also wants to increase its fleet of Sikorsky MH-60K/Ls from 69 to 96 machines, which will be upgraded to a common MH-60M standard with a similar Rockwell Collins glass cockpit to theMH-47G.
The MH-60s, meanwhile, are beginning to receive the BAE Systems ALQ-212 Advanced Threat Infrared Counter-measures (ATIC).
Source: Flight International
