Army official says increased foreign military sales will sustain CH-47 block II production line

Army acquisition executive Bruce Jette told lawmakers today the service is increasing its foreign military sales to maintain the minimum sustainment rate for Boeing's CH-47 Chinook block II production line.

Jette said at a House Armed Services tactical air and land forces subcommittee hearing the Army has "orders in place out to 25" foreign military sales to maintain the minimum sustainment rate of 18 aircraft.

"We have moved some of our [operational readiness floats] deliveries just to the right, which lets us make sure we fill in some of the gaps," Jette said. "We have [lines of accounting] awaiting signature with the [United Kingdom], we’re pretty confident that will follow through. They're going through their current budget works as well and we expect that by October. That's very promising."

Jette added other countries have direct commercial sales contracts for Chinook block I deliveries.

"The Netherlands has on contract, through direct commercial sales, six [Chinook] new build for block I, delivery in [fiscal year] 2021," he said. "We have Singapore on contract for direct commercial sales for eight new builds as well."