A UK Authorities minister has confirmed that development of the preliminary two new Chinook airframes has begun at Boeing’s Philadelphia facility.
Answering a written query submitted to the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the standing of the excellent Chinook order, division Minister of State Maria Eagle confirmed for the primary time that Boeing has commenced manufacturing of the Royal Air Power’s new helicopters. She additionally confirmed that the supply of the primary plane is predicted by 2027.
The choice to obtain 14 new-build Chinook helicopters was confirmed in 2021, however finalisation of the order didn’t happen till 2024 after quite a few delays and inside opinions. Selecting the prolonged vary H-47ER variant, the brand new helicopters will function bigger gasoline tanks like these on the RAF’s present Chinook HC5 plane.
Among the oldest Chinooks within the UK fleet, which entered service over forty years in the past, have already been withdrawn because the Assist Helicopter Power consolidates on a deliberate drive of 51. It is a slight discount from the 60 airframes beforehand in service, although it nonetheless constitutes one of many largest Chinook fleets worldwide.
Following the primary anticipated deliveries in 2027, earlier ministerial statements have set a potential date of Could 2029 for the declaration of preliminary working functionality (IOC). Full working functionality (FOC) would comply with in October 2030. UK personnel will start coaching as instructors on the brand new variant in August 2025.
Although little official remark has been made concerning the precise specification of the brand new helicopters, it has been understood by many aviation journalists that they’ll share a level of similarity to the U.S. Military a hundred and sixtieth Particular Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR)’s MH-47G Chinooks. Although the UK doesn’t presently have the potential to refuel helicopters within the air, the helicopters may have the potential to take action. In December 2024, we reported that the Northrop Grumman Frequent Infrared Countermeasures (CIRCM) defensive system had been procured for the brand new Chinooks.
Though its not specified, we’re basically shopping for an MH-47G, like that utilized by the US Military’s a hundred and sixtieth SOAR. That unit is the primary buyer for the Block II mannequin. Our Block IIs may also have the Collins CAAS cockpit, not the Thales TopDeck presently on RAF Mk5/6/6A fashions. 2/3 pic.twitter.com/M62S2gVbOg
— Tony Osborne (@Rotorfocus) Could 13, 2021
Fueling this hypothesis additional, in 2024 two a hundred and sixtieth SOAR Chinooks deployed to the UK to participate in Train Darkish Lightning, aiming to enhance interoperability between U.S. and UK Chinook items. As a part of this train, the 2 helicopters visited RAF Odiham, dwelling to the UK’s frontline Chinook forces, and carried out a low-level aerial refueling demonstration with an RAF Mildenhall based mostly USAF MC-130J Commando II.
Three Chinook squadrons are based mostly at RAF Odiham, together with 7 Squadron which is the SHF’s contribution to the UK Joint Particular Forces Aviation Wing (JSFAW). Various Chinooks are moreover based mostly at RAF Benson with 28 Squadron, the operational conversion unit (OCU).
The Chinook in RAF Service
Getting into operational service in 1981, RAF Chinooks had a baptism of fireside solely months later within the Falklands Warfare of 1982. 4 Chinooks had been loaded onto the requisitioned service provider vessel MV Atlantic Conveyor to be shipped into fight alongside the Harrier-equipped plane provider process drive.
When Atlantic Conveyor was attacked by Argentine plane utilizing Exocet anti-ship missiles, three of those helicopters had been misplaced within the inferno alongside quite a few Wessex and Lynx. The only surviving Chinook, serial ZA718, coded ‘BN’ or ‘Bravo November’, was airborne when the missiles struck and subsequently offered the duty drive’s solely heavy raise functionality all through the warfare.
Photogs at @RAF_Cosford captured the second Chinook ZA718, recognized by many as Bravo November made her closing journey to the RAF Museum in Cosford
She is among the authentic 30 plane ordered by the @RoyalAirForce in 1978 and was in service for 39 years pic.twitter.com/RujRMHBRxN
— RAF Photographer (@RAFPhotog) March 17, 2022
Serving till March 2022, Bravo November offered exemplary service in each Iraq and Afghanistan, taking quite a few battle scars alongside the best way. It’s now preserved on the Royal Air Power Museum’s Midlands department at RAF Cosford.
Very like the Military Air Corps’ AH-64 Apache assault helicopters, the UK’s drive construction requires the Chinooks to function not simply from land but additionally extensively from ships. Newer Royal Navy vessels are sometimes particularly designed with flight decks of a measurement massive sufficient to accommodate a Chinook, and the Queen Elizabeth class plane carriers’ plane lifts are capable of transport a Chinook with out eradicating its rotor blades. Chinooks can deploy with the carriers to offer a heavy raise logistics and provider on-board supply (COD) functionality, in addition to instantly take part in amphibious fight operations.
It is a bit ‘tight’…shades of the Belvedere picture I posted lately.“An RAF Chinook in one of many elevators of HMS Queen Elizabeth. Though not a part of the same old complement, the ship is licensed to function them and supply heavy raise functionality to mixed operations”. pic.twitter.com/gaCgoDSwKv
— Trev Clark’s Obscure Aviation Historical past 🚁 (@clark_aviation) October 2, 2024
The plane’s heavy raise functionality can also be utilised beneath the Navy Support to Civil Authorities (MACA) system. Underslung a great deal of gravel, sand, and different aggregates could be airlifted to help flood aid operations, and even dropped instantly into the trail of the water. RAF Chinooks had been additionally positioned on alert early within the COVID-19 pandemic to offer logistics help and speedy affected person switch providers to the Nationwide Well being Service.
