U.S State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters to Australia. Australia has re...
U.S State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters to Australia.
Australia has requested sale of three CH-47F helicopters and six T55-GA-714A turboshaft engines. The deal estimated to cost $180 million, also include related equipment and support.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying U.S. Congress of this possible sale on December 18, 2015.
The CH-47F aircraft will replace Australia’s retiring CH-47D variant and improve Australia's heavy lift capability.
The principal contractor will be the Boeing Helicopter Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are no known offset agreements at this time associated with this proposed sale.
The Chinook is operated by Australian army for troop movement, artillery emplacement and battlefield re-supply.The twin-engined, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopter has a top speed of 170 knots (315 km/h).
It has a wide loading ramp at the rear of the fuselage and three external-cargo hooks underneath. With a maximum take off weight of 21 ton, the Chinook has a range of 600 km and can carry 33 fully equipped troops.
