Boeing receives last contract for CH-47F Chinook Block I
The Spanish Army has ordered another Chinook CH-47F Block I helicopter, marking one of the last orders for the line. (Photo: Boeing)
Boeing has received a contract worth up to $793 million to produce 18 CH-47F Chinook helicopters for South Korea and an additional aircraft for Spain, marking the conclusion of Block I orders.
Boeing has received its last orders for the Chinook CH-47F Block I helicopter as the company transitions all work onto Block II aircraft in the expectation of delivering the last of the Block I variants in 2027.
The order of a single aircraft to supplement Spain’s current fleet of 17 and of 18 for South Korea is part of a $793 million FMS deal agreed with the US DoD. The latter order will take the number of countries operating the aircraft type to 16.
South Korea, the world’s third largest operator of Chinooks, is buying the CH-47Fs as part of an effort to replace its CH-47D aircraft, having abandoned plans to upgrade these old Chinooks. Shephard Defence Insight lists South Korea as owning 43 CH-47D Chinooks (including six HH-47D combat search and rescue helicopters of the ROK Air Force).
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Boeing reiterated that it will continue to support the older platforms and upgrades are under way to modernise Block I aircraft which are already in service. Block II aircraft will begin to dominate the production line over the next few years with this aircraft providing longer range, a reinforced airframe and redesigned fuel tanks.
Currently, six Block II aircraft are under contract with the US Army, 36 with US Army Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and 14 with the UK. SOCOM have been receiving Block II aircraft for several years and the US Army will receive its first example early next year.
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