US Army SpecOps orders additional Block II Chinooks

U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) awarded Boeing a $240 million contract to remanufacture five MH-47G Block II Chinook aircraft. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027. “Supporting the needs of our special operators continues to be critically important,” said Heather McBryan, Cargo Programs vice president and program manager for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “USASOAC has unique and complex mission requirements, so it’s vital we provide the enhanced capabilities of the MH-47G Block II as quickly as possible.” The award follows USASOAC’s acquisition of four MH-47G Block II aircraft in 2024. With this award, the Army now has a total of 51 MH-47G Block II aircraft under contract. Boeing anticipates completing the entirety of the USASOAC Chinook fleet in early 2030. The MH-47G Block II heavy-lift helicopter improves the global reach of USASOAC capabilities. With a reinforced airframe, redesigned fuel tanks, state-of-the-art avionics and a design that enables future affordable modernisation efforts, the aircraft is well positioned to fly for decades to come. Patriot seeker deliveries hit record highs Boeing’s production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) seekers reached an all-time high in 2024, resulting in more than 500 deliveries. In early 2025, the company also set new monthly and 12-month rolling average production records. The seeker component enables the most advanced interceptors used by the Patriot air defence system to identify, track and defeat threats ranging from hostile aircraft to advanced ballistic and cruise missiles. Boeing plans to further expand seeker production in 2025, with additional growth planned in the years ahead in support of increasing defense and security needs globally. The company also expects to complete construction of its new 35,000-square-foot (3,300-square-meter) factory expansion this spring, which will unlock additional future production capacity once fully operational. “We know that service members and civilians are increasingly depending on us to deliver this critical component for the world’s best air defense system,” said Jim Bryan, director of Integrated Air & Missile Defense. “This capability exemplifies our air and missile defense expertise, which we can leverage to address major challenges, such as America’s next-generation homeland defense shield and more.” Over the past several years, Boeing has made investments and improvements as part of its strategic plan to ramp up PAC-3 seeker production, including: Expanding and modernising facilities with cutting-edge equipment and technology from automated inspection to robotic soldering equipment. Improving manufacturing processes and production controls for greater first-time quality. Strengthening and diversifying supplier relationships for a more agile, affordable, resilient and scalable supply chain. Boeing produces PAC-3 seekers for the U.S. Army and international partner nations as a subcontractor to Lockheed Martin. Seventeen countries around the world now use PAC-3 interceptors, including most recently Ukraine. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Group Sales Director Simon Hadfield at [email protected]