Australia may buy four more Chinook helicopters
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The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Australia of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters and related equipment.
FILE PHOTO (Feb 2020): Australian Army CH-47F Chinooks from 5th Aviation Regiment on an Operation Bushfire Assist 19/20 sortie. Photo by Corporal Tristan Kennedy.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The announcement said the Government of Australia had requested to buy four CH-47F cargo helicopters with customer-unique modifications – eight T55-GA-714A aircraft turbine engines, five AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS); eight Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS/EGI) +429; and two EAGLE+429 Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (INS/EGI).
Also included is mission equipment; communication and navigation equipment; spare parts and components; special tools and test equipment; publications and technical manuals; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, maintenance, technical, and logistical support services, and other related elements of program and logistical support.
The total estimated value is US$259 million.
The aircraft will be provided from US Army stock.
Australia currently has 10 Chinooks, operated by 5th Aviation Regiment at RAAF Base Townsville.
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The RAAFs 12 Sqn flew 12 Chooks for years; one was lost in a training accident after hitting power lines up near a dam. And then there were 11 operating to support the ADF; nothing exciting here, just back to the future,again.
Gee…their really are a lot of know all smartasses who post on this site…eh?
I presume all this extra equipment we are procuring from the US recently is to satisfy Canberra’s requirements to project a “hardened and networked ADF” posture to our Indo-Pacific neighbors and the Chinese military. Well if it is, we are going to need a lot more of it than we are currently buying at the moment. While you are at it, you might recommend an increase in the number of personnel who are going to have to use all the additional US equipment to; although that problem is probably solved by employing the ABC staff, the members of the ALP, and all the looney left journos to fight against any future Chinese aggression.
If my memory is correct the RAAF had Chinooks flying out of Amberley in the mid 70’s. Eventually they were removed from service as the army no longer had a need for this type of support due to the purchase of Blackhawks which would suit their requirements.
FF a few years and the Army purchased Chinooks which were required I believe to move artillery etc.
As you said, the more things change the more they stay the same.
Is my memory on the blink, or was it (not so long ago) that the bum-polishers decided that we didn’t need Chinooks anymore, as the Blackhawks could meet all our needs, for both combat, and civilian aid?
The more things change, the more they stay the same!