New Tech for US Special Operations

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The US Army has purchased from Boeing Nine more MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters for its Special Operations Aviation Command. The service is expected to buy 69 special operations variants.

The upgrades in the Block II version include newly designed rotorblades, major changes to the drive system and other improvements like non-segmented fuel cells. The aircraft is expected to buy back roughly 4,000 pounds of additional load capacity and adds range capability.

The next-generation heavy-lift helicopter is powered by cutting-edge technologies to lift more throughout the envelope – especially in high, hot operating conditions – all of which enable soldiers to meet tomorrow’s heavy-lift mission requirements. The helicopter improves readiness for the U.S. Army and Special Operations warfighters.

The original plan was to procure 473 F-model Block II helicopters for the active force as well, but the Army decided in its fiscal 2020 budget request not to buy them for the conventional force and only field the latest variant to special operations, which was much in need of a replacement for the variant in its fleet.

According to defensenews.com, the contract award is the third in a series of awards to buy G-model Chinooks. Boeing received contracts in 2018 and 2019 as well.

The Army approved the Block II effort to move into the engineering and manufacturing development phase in April 2017, and the program officially began in July 2017. The aircraft began flying in tests in mid-2019.