The US Army has signed an $876.4-million contract with Boeing to deliver up to 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters, marking one of the service’s most significant recent investments in heavy-lift aviation. The package includes logistics support, training services, and essential engineering work. Boeing will carry out production at Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, with the program scheduled to run through October 2035. Oversight will be provided by the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, with funding drawn from fiscal 2026 Germany case allocations.
Developed as the next major enhancement of the Chinook fleet, the Block II configuration introduces a wide range of upgrades intended to increase payload, resilience, and mission readiness. These enhancements include a reinforced airframe, redesigned fuel system, an improved drivetrain, and modernized avionics. The Block II also features the Digital Advanced Flight Control System, upgraded electrical power architecture, and built-in capacity for future enhancements. The Army plans to modernize more than 400 Block I Chinooks, ensuring long-term alignment with next-generation mission demands. The new deal follows Boeing’s earlier orders for nine additional aircraft worth $461 million and another three units ordered for $135 million in late 2024.
Renowned for its lifting power and operational versatility, Boeing’s CH-47F stretches 98 feet in length with an 80-foot rotor span, accommodating 55 troops, 24,000 pounds of cargo, or up to 20 medical stretchers. The aircraft uses two Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines, each producing 4,700 horsepower, enabling speeds of 170 knots and extending its reach to 1,200 nautical miles with a service ceiling of 20,000 feet. These performance figures reinforce why the Chinook remains a cornerstone of US Army aviation and continues to attract substantial modernization funding.
