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| UK Purchases 14 CH-47F Chinook Helicopters Worth £1.4 Bilion |
International Military - The Defense Equipment and Support Agency (DE&S) of the UK Ministry of Defense has purchased 14 CH-47F (ER) Chinook Heavy Lift Helicopters made by Boeing for 1.4 billion pounds (1.7 billion USD). DE&S purchased the latest variant of the Chinook Extended Range helicopter through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) from the US Department of Defense.
The contract covers development and manufacturing services for the next decade. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026. The Royal Air Force (RAF) said the CH-47F (ER) would be stationed at RAF Odiham.
The Chinook is a versatile helicopter that has proven its worth in every major conflict since the Falklands War. The helicopter can operate in a variety of environments, from the desert to the Arctic, and carry up to 55 personnel or 10 tons of cargo.
The CH-47F(ER) has a variety of new capabilities, including a digital cockpit, a modernized airframe to increase stability and improve survivability, and an automated digital flight control system to allow pilots to hover in areas of limited visibility.