Army’s new Chinook fleet delivered

Boeing has delivered the seventh and final new CH-47F Chinook to the Australian Army.

A company statement on 9 September said the last of the fleet of seven new aircraft was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule about a month ago.

The seven new CH-47F Chinooks will replace the current fleet of six CH-47Ds.

Steve Parker, vice president Cargo Helicopters and H-47 program manager, said Boeing was committed to meeting its customers’ needs anywhere in the world with the right capability, delivered on time and cost and this early delivery demonstrated that commitment.

“Major developments on the CH-47F include a digital cockpit, an advanced communications system and new avionics.

“Those will allow the Australian Army to operate more effectively with US and international forces through the easy exchange of digital maps that facilitate coordinated responses for military and humanitarian missions.

“The Australian Chinook configuration also includes a new rotor brake that enables shipboard operations by actively stopping the rotor blades rather than allowing the blades to naturally ‘spin down’ once the engines are turned off after landing.”

Rear Admiral Tony Dalton of Australia’s Department of Defence said the CH-47D Chinooks had been real workhorses for Australia, both at home and on operations.

“Our new CH-47F Chinooks are set to be even more dependable, affordable and capable assets,” Rear Admiral Dalton said.

“We are very pleased with how Boeing and the United States Army have worked together to deliver this important capability to Australia ahead of schedule and on budget.”

The Australian Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment, 16th Aviation Brigade, operates the Chinooks from their home base in Townsville, north Queensland.

Boeing Defence Australia will provide on-site operational maintenance support for the CH-47Fs, having supported the CH-47D since 2010.

 

 

 

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