House authorizers move to restore Chinook Block II funding

The House Armed Services Committee is once again restoring funding to the Block II upgrade program for the CH-47 Chinook, directing the Army to stick to its original plan to improve the helicopter.

The chairman's mark of the committee's fiscal year 2021 defense policy bill -- obtained by Inside Defense -- restores $29 million for Chinook advance procurement, which includes the Block II upgrade for the CH-47F in the conventional force.

The Army had asked for $18.4 million for Chinook advance procurement, consistent with its FY-20 request, which was ultimately denied by Congress.

The committee in its FY-20 mark restored $28 million and said it was "concerned that the Army is now reducing its support for the CH-47 Block II program which was determined to be necessary less than two years ago."

The service wants to use funding for the Block II upgrade, intended to increase the helicopter's payload, to fund development of new aircraft under the future vertical lift modernization priority.

Army spokeswoman Cathy Vandermaarel said in a statement in February the service wants to wait until FY-23 to decide whether to pursue Block II upgrades for the conventional force or recapitalize Block I aircraft.

Meanwhile, the Senate Armed Services Committee is granting the Army the requested cut in its mark of the defense policy bill.