The US Army is moving forward with plans to operationally field the latest version of Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter.
The service’s aviation procurement office on 30 September said the army has authorised procurement of CH-47F Block II aircraft using funds from both the recently concluded fiscal year 2025 and FY2026, which began on 1 October.
Although the army does not specify exactly how many aircraft will be covered under the rapid fielding effort, the service says it will outfit two combat aviation brigades (CABs) with the upgraded Chinooks.
Each brigade includes 12 Block I CH-47Fs. The two initial CABs will be outfitted with a mix of new-order and existing Block II CH-47Fs, which Boeing started delivering to the US Army in small numbers in 2024 by remanufacturing existing Block I Chinooks.
Only a portion of the 24 total aircraft covered under the rapid fielding initiative are already accounted for.
In 2021, the army awarded Boeing a $136 million contract to supply the first four Block II CH-47s under Lot 1. A further $63 million deal for Lot 2 added two aircraft, followed by a Lot 3 order for three aircraft in December 2024 valued at $135 million.
Six of those Block II assets have already been delivered, Boeing tells FlightGlobal.
Boeing will be tapped to provide the remaining balance of aircraft for the rapid fielding effort, and likely many more, as the army moves to modernise its fleet, which includes 11 CABs in the active duty force and eight more in the part-time Army National Guard, according to FY2026 budget documents.
“We’re ready to ramp up CH-47F Block II production to deliver aircraft with the increased lift and range the army and our allies need to meet the demands of the modern battlefield,” says Heather McBryan, manager of cargo programmes within Boeing’s vertical lift division.
The long-awaited decision is a massive win for Boeing, securing Chinook production at the company’s multiple CH-47F assembly lines in Philadelphia for years to come.
The army had publicly committed to a full-rate production deal for Block II Chinooks back in early 2024, but a firm plan for doing so – and an accompanying contract – had until now remained elusive.
The service’s total Chinook inventory counts more than 450 examples, although it is unclear if the army plans to convert the entirety of that force to Block II or just a portion.
Germany has also committed to fielding the CH-47F Block II, with an existing programme covering 60 aircraft.
The army says “several other” overseas partners have also expressed an interest in acquiring the CH-47F Block II to “strengthen their own heavy-lift capabilities”. “This global demand underscores the platform’s reputation as a proven workhorse with cutting-edge upgrades tailored for 21st Century warfare,” the army says.
Improvements made in the Block II include an upgraded drivetrain, reinforced airframe and enhanced fuel system that together offer an improved mission radius and an increased maximum gross weight of 24,500kg (54,000lb) for the tandem-rotor type.
Boeing says the latest configuration also improves reliability with a simplified fuel system and new rotor system that reduces unscheduled maintenance.
The army says the increased payload will allow battlefield commanders to move greater amounts of troops, materiel and fuel faster and over greater distances.
“With the Block II Chinook’s increased gross weight and increased torque available, we can carry more,” says US Army maintenance test pilot Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jordan Brooks.
“Missions that currently require two sorties with [the] Block I can be completed with a single Block II sortie, reducing crew exposure and accelerating operational tempo,” he notes.
Separately, Boeing has been delivering substantial numbers of the special mission MH-47G derivative to the US Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, which falls under the external procurement authority of US Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
The MH-47G is based on the CH-47F Block II, with specific modifications like an aerial refuelling probe that support the rotary-wing aviation needs of special operations forces.
SOCOM has placed orders for at least 51 MH-47Gs, which are also produced at Boeing’s CH-47F production site in Philadelphia.
The UK Royal Air Force has also placed an order for 14 MH-47Gs, with deliveries expected to begin in 2026.
Boeing says its ideal CH-47F production rate is between 30 and 36 aircraft annually, including Block I, Block II, and MH-47G variants.
