Army awards Boeing $497M contract for 14 Chinooks

By Dan Schere / January 3, 2023 at 4:16 PM

The Army has awarded Boeing a $497 million contract to produce 14 CH-47F Block I Chinook helicopters, 12 of which will be for the Egyptian Air Force.

The company announced in a press release Tuesday that the foreign military sale to Egypt will allow the country’s air force to replace its fleet of CH-47D aircraft.

The F model of the Chinook includes a digital cockpit management system and advanced cargo handling capabilities among other features, according to Boeing. By replacing the D model aircraft with the F model, Egypt will be equipped with advanced multimission capabilities, according to the company’s statement.

“The F-model aircraft will enhance Egypt’s Chinook capabilities and help effectively accomplish its heavy-lift objectives,” Ken Eland, vice president and H-47 program manager for Boeing, said in a statement.

The other two helicopters that will be produced as part of the contract will be delivered to the U.S. Army, according to Boeing spokesman Brett Anker. The contract, awarded Dec. 23, has an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2025, according to the Defense Department’s posting. Boeing estimates deliveries will begin in 2026.

Despite being one of the Army’s legacy helicopter programs, support for Chinooks has seen a boost of late. The $1.7 trillion omnibus package passed by Congress last month and signed into law by President Biden boosts funding for Chinooks above the Army’s original request.

Additionally, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency in early December announced that the State Department approved a potential $1.5 billion sale of Chinook helicopters and equipment to South Korea to help strengthen the country’s security. And earlier this year, Germany announced it would purchase Chinooks to strengthen it’s heavy-lift capabilities.

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