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Boeing looks after full brood of Australian Chinooks

Our Bureau - : Feb 28, 2023 - : 12:56 am

The Australian Army completed its fleet of 14 CH-47F Chinook helicopters when the final two examples touched down aboard a US Air Force C-5M Galaxy transport aircraft on 23 June 2022.

Australia had lodged an AUD595 million (USD444 million) order for four Chinooks, as announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in late April 2021. The first pair had been delivered on 8 July 2021.

All 14 CH-47Fs are flown by C Squadron of the 5th Aviation Regiment, 16th Aviation Brigade, based at RAAF Base Townsville.

Ken Eland, Boeing’s Vice President and Program Manager of Cargo Helicopters, stated: ‘The Chinook remains the premier heavy-lift helicopter in the world, and we are excited to see more aircraft reach all edges of the globe. We’re honoured to continue supporting Australia’s heavy-lift aircraft needs now and in the future.’

All Australian ‘Chooks’ are maintained by Boeing Defence Australia via a Chinook Integrated Support Services (CISS) contract. The company also tends to ten Singaporean CH-47Fs of a detachment based at Oakey. That amounts to 24 aircraft.

The CISS contract incorporates programme management, engineering, technical support, maintenance, training support and, when required, surge and deployment support.

Some 38 Boeing Defence Australia personnel support this effort, via rolling five-year contracts. The sustainment effort includes a Cargo Helicopter Management Unit, CISS Contract Support (around 80 ADF employees) and 5 Aviation Regiment support (around 60 ADF personnel).

Stephen King, Rotary-Winged Support Specialist at Boeing Defence Australia, said Australian Chinooks follow the US Army configuration, except they do have minor Australian modifications such as crashworthy seats, a rotor brake, working-at-heights and fly-away kits (both to support at-sea deployments). Australia will continue to align with the US configuration in the future.

Australian companies have performed small amounts of work on the Chinook fleet, including production of longerons, undercarriage doors, crashworthy bucket seats and structural formers.

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