Australia is to acquire two Boeing CH-47D Chinook transport helicopters to replace an example lost in Afghanistan earlier this year. The move will bring the Australian Defence Force's fleet of Chinooks to seven, said minister for defence materiel Jason Clare.
Letters of offer and acceptance for the aircraft have been signed with the USA.
The two Chinooks will alleviate the training and maintenance schedule for Australia's CH-47D fleet, Clare added.
 |
|---|
© Commonwealth of Australia |
The aircraft will be delivered to Townsville, Queensland by the end of January 2012. They will be modified to the current Australian CH-47D configuration and be ready for domestic use in Australia by the middle of 2012.
Australia will replace its CH-47Ds with CH-47Fs around 2016, said Clare. Seven of the new-build standard aircraft are on order.
Source: Flight International
