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One of the most relied upon workhorses of the Australian Defence Force, the CH-47 Chinook has been upgraded by Boeing and arrived three weeks earlier than scheduled.
The modern Chinooks will enhance the ADF’s air lift capability through its advancements: a digital cockpit, an advanced communications system and new avionics.
Those allow the Australian Army to operate more effectively with US and international forces through the easy exchange of digital maps that facilitate co-ordinated responses for military and humanitarian missions.
The Australian Chinook configuration also includes a new rotor brake that enables shipboard operations by actively stopping the rotor blades rather than allowing the blades to naturally ‘spin down’ once the engine is turned off after landing.
“Our CH-47D Chinooks have been real workhorses for Australia, both here and on operations overseas, and our new CH-47F Chinooks are set to be even more dependable, affordable and capable assets,” said Rear Admiral Tony Dalton of Australia’s Department of Defence.
“We are very pleased with how Boeing and the United States Army have worked together to deliver this important capability to Australia ahead of schedule and on budget.”
The Australian Army’s 5th Aviation Regiment, 16th Aviation Brigade, operates the Chinooks from their home base in northern Queensland.
Boeing Defence Australia will provide on-site operational maintenance support for the CH-47F aircraft, having supported the CH-47D since 2010.
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