In the United States, the US Army Contracting Command, located at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, has awarded Boeing the contract to begin production of CH-47F Block II helicopters for the German Luftwaffe.
Germany, for the replacement of the CH-53G in service for over fifty years, has initiated a selection procedure that has seen the latest version of the Chinook prevail over the CH-53K King Stallion.
The Unique Features of the German Chinook
The German helicopters will be set up in a hybrid version between that for “ordinary” transport uses and the MH-47G version in use with the US Special Forces.
The Luftwaffe helicopters will also feature the innovations brought by the Block II of the Standard Range version of the Chinook, and will be equipped with a probe for in-flight refuelling, exponentially increasing the range and transfer autonomy and a full suite of equipment to operate around the clock under any weather and light conditions, with protected communication suites and self-protection.
The German CH-47F Block II Program
Germany plans to purchase up to a maximum of sixty CH-47F Block II within the framework of a foreign military sales (FMS) procedure totaling 6.98 billion euros, equivalent to 8.10 billion dollars at the July 2023 exchange rate, financed by the special fund funds for the Bundeswehr approved by Bundestag in 2022.
The contract now awarded to Boeing is worth 876.42 million dollars and provides for the supply, in addition to the helicopters, of spare parts, technical support, and initial training of German personnel.
Source: US Department of War (US DoW)
Image credit @Boeing
