Boeing [BA] has officially delivered the first upgraded CH-47F Block II Chinook to the Army, the company said Monday.
The Army received the first CH-47F Block II at Boeing’s facility outside of Philadelphia on Friday, a company spokesperson confirmed, as the service works toward a Milestone C decision to move the program into full-rate production next year.
“The CH-47F Block II provides capability improvements allowing the U.S. Army to lift more, fly farther and maintain their aircraft better than ever before,” Heather McBryan, Boeing’s vice president and program manager of cargo programs, said in a statement. “This modernization program enables the battle-tested Chinook to play a key role in multi-domain operations going forward.”
Block II upgrades for the Chinook include an improved drivetrain, increased range, a redesigned fuel system and an ability to lift an additional 4,000 pounds, with Boeing noting that up to 465 heavy-lift aircraft are likely to be modernized to the new configuration.
Friday’s delivery follows a first flight with a production Block II on April 8, and an April 15 ceremony at Boeing’s Ridley Park, Pennsylvania facility commemorating the first upgraded aircraft to roll off the line, which included attendance from a congressional delegation and Army officials.
In late April, Boeing officials had said the company was “weeks away” from officially handing over the first CH-47F Block II to the Army (Defense Daily, April 24).
“Until last week, we were waiting for paperwork to come through on a part. Once we received it last week, we successfully delivered the aircraft on Friday,” a Boeing spokesperson told Defense Daily on Monday.
As part of the Army’s aviation rebalance detailed in February, which included canceling development of the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft, the service announced a commitment to eventual full-rate production for the CH-47F Block II Chinook (Defense Daily, Feb. 8).
“For both Boeing and our 400 suppliers, we’ve been in kind of an uncertain territory the last couple of years as we’re looking at ending Block I production and [were] awaiting the Army’s decision on Block II. So I think for the industrial base, the certainty that this brings is big for both Chinook and the community. It will help with affordability. It will help with lead times on part procurements,” McBryan told reporters in April.
Brig. Gen David Phillips, the Army’s program executive officer for aviation, has said recently that a Milestone C decision for CH-47F Block II would most likely be in late FY ’25.
The remaining five Block II aircraft covered under Lot 1 and 2 low-rate production orders are all in some stages of final assembly, McBryan said, with Boeing on track to deliver three more Block IIs to the Army this year and two more in early 2025.
Boeing is also on contract for advanced procurement of the next six aircraft, with the company spokesperson confirming a Lot 3 low-rate production order is still expected this summer to build three aircraft.