Boeing Secures Major CH-47F Chinook Contracts, Marks Transition to Block II Design

Boeing was given a contract to build 18 CH-47F Block I Chinooks for South Korea and one additional aircraft for Spain as part of a U.S. Department of Defence Foreign Military Sale (FMS). The agreement, worth at up to $793 million, represents the last aircraft to be ordered under the current CH-47F Block I FMS contract with the U.S. government as Boeing continues to transition to producing the sophisticated Block II design.

With this order, CH-47F Block I manufacturing and delivery will come to an end in 2027, but Chinook modernization efforts will continue with the H-47 Block II programme, which is already underway. Block II has a more effective drivetrain, a strengthened airframe, and reworked fuel tanks that increase lift and range.

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Six Block II aircraft, 36 for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (SOCOM), and 14 for the United Kingdom are now under contract with the U.S. Army. Since a few years ago, SOCOM has been getting Block II aircraft, and the U.S. Army will get its first CH-47F Block II at the beginning of 2024.

In the heavy-lift market, Block I and Block II aircraft will coexist. Spain will grow its fleet to 18 aircraft with this most recent purchase of Chinook Block I aircraft, and South Korea will join 15 other operators that take use of the digital cockpit and superior cargo handling capabilities.

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“South Korea adds to a growing list of operators around the world that recognise the value the modernised CH-47F Chinook brings to the table,” said Vince Logsdon, vice president, Global Business Development and Strategic Marketing for Boeing Defence, Space & Security. “While Spain is already benefiting from the aircraft in Europe, we are honoured to support South Korea’s modernization of its heavy-lift helicopter with a product capable of meeting the stringent mission requirements in Asia Pacific.”