The US Army expands its fleet of MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters
Boeing plans to complete the upgrade of the entire USASOAC Chinook fleet by early 2030.
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The United States Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) has awarded Boeing a contract worth $240 million for the remanufacturing of five MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters, with deliveries scheduled for 2027.
With this acquisition, the total fleet of contracted MH-47G Block II helicopters rises to 51 units, consolidating the effort to modernize special operations aviation with aircraft of greater capacity and endurance. The company plans to complete the upgrade of the entire USASOAC Chinook fleet by early 2030.
Key Improvements in the MH-47G Block II
The MH-47G Block II is an optimized version of the heavy-lift helicopter, designed to operate in demanding special operations missions. Some of its improvements include:
- Reinforced fuselage for greater durability and resistance.
- Redesigned fuel tanks to extend its range.
- State-of-the-art avionics that enhance navigation and communication capabilities.
- Modular design, allowing for future upgrades at lower cost.
- New advanced rotor blades, made from composite materials and with redesigned tips, which alone allow an increase of 680 kg in the Chinook's lifting capacity.
Heather McBryan, Vice President of Cargo Programs at Boeing Defense, Space & Security, emphasized the importance of this modernization: “Supporting the needs of our special operators remains a top priority. USASOAC has unique and complex mission requirements, so it is vital to provide them with the enhanced capabilities of the MH-47G Block II as soon as possible.”
With this acquisition, the U.S. Army strengthens its heavy-lift and long-range insertion/extraction capabilities, ensuring that its special forces can be rapidly and reliably deployed in the various scenarios where their intervention is required.
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