Rhode IndoPac 728 90 leaderboardIn support of ongoing U.S. Army modernisation efforts, Boeing delivered the first CH-47F Block II Chinook. The aircraft is one of up to 465 in the Army’s fleet that will be modernised to the new Block II configuration.

“The CH-47F Block II provides capability improvements allowing the U.S. Army to lift more, fly farther and maintain their aircraft better than ever before,” said Heather McBryan, vice president and program manager, Cargo Programs. “This modernisation program enables the battle-tested Chinook to play a key role in multi-domain operations going forward.”

With an improved drivetrain, a reinforced airframe and enhanced fuel system, the CH-47F Block II provides for an additional 4,000 pounds of max gross weight and extends the mission radius for nearly all payloads. In addition to the capability improvements, the aircraft’s design enables future technology upgrades.

“As the Army’s Heavy Lift platform of tomorrow, the CH-47F Block II provides increased capability while continuing support of the Army’s requirement to remain strategically responsive across the full spectrum of operations,” said Viva Kelly, U.S. Army Cargo Helicopters acting project manager.

Additionally, the company’s Block II program improves aircraft sustainment. The improved reliability of the new rotor system minimises unscheduled maintenance, and the simplified fuel system drives sustainment efficiency reducing maintenance burden and cost.

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9 COMMENTS

  1. If the ADF wants to turn the island chain to Australia’s north into a labyrinth of HIMARS PRISM/LRASM nests, it needs more Chinooks NOT Black Hawks

  2. “HIMARS M142 has an empty weight of 29,800 pounds (13,517 kg) and a combat-loaded weight of 35,800 pounds (16,238 kg)” – executivegov.com

    “the Chinook Block II helicopter with the new Honeywell engine will carry 22,000-plus pounds of payload, compared to about 20,000 for current versions of the CH-47” – aerospace.honeywell.com

    Littoral manoeuvre to enable long range fires will require landing craft, Chinooks, and Blackhawks, among many other enablers.

    • C-17s & C-130Js will remain the ADF’s only credible platforms to conduct swift deployment of long range fires until landing craft and relevant littoral infrastructure are made available. Black Hawks will always lack the Chinook’s range, speed, power/payload necessary to sustain the PERIPHERAL SUPPORT demanded by the dynamic nature of long range fire tactics and other elements in a littoral theatre.

      • From all the information available to me, I absolutely believe RAAF should have looked at the Embraer KC-390 for the C-130J replacement project. They didn’t even bother – just handed over another $10 billion for an FMS purchase, which has become all too typical of how Defence routinely behaves showing no interest in value for money.

        • There’s no denying the C390’s performance appears superior to the C130s, but it’s difficult to condemn RAAF – DFAT’s reluctance to deal with a corporation at the mercy of Brazil’s far right covid denying psychotic government heading the BRICS acronym (Brazil Russia India China Iran Egypt Ethiopia UAE & South Africa intergovernmental organisation) coupled with Morrison & Dutton’s febrile mantra that war with China was imminent at that time. While the C390 looks impressive so far, fact remains it was the new kid on the block at that time, it lacked the C130’s maturity and wouldn’t deliver the seamless integration/transition guaranteed by the super Herc. Not disputing any of the argument’s you’ve made for the C390 Kym, and I regularly gripe about the blatantly corrupt monopoly the US military industrial complex enjoys over ADF procurement, but compared to the indefensible waste of tax payers’ hard earned committed by RAN and Army over the past 20-30 years, I suspect RAAF’s hands were tied by extenuating geopolitical circumstances at the time of this this purchase.

  3. My apologies Kym, I obviously missed that part, wasn’t aware you had evidence of RAAF ignoring the 390 outright, your frustration is entirely justified.

    • The claim was they had done a “desktop study” – which is the usual bullshit for not bothering. They didn’t contact Embraer or ask for any information from them, so it’s pretty clear they just signed up for more C-130Js with zero analysis – or interest – in an alternative solution.

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