“Transforming the Skies: The £1.4 Billion Revamp of the Chinook Fleet in the UK”
The procurement of the new aircraft underscores the promise articulated in the recent Defence Command Paper to allocate over £85 billion towards military assets in the coming four years, aiming to revamp and rejuvenate our Armed Forces.
Proven in combat and utilized in every significant conflict since the Falklands War, the Chinook is an exceptionally adaptable aircraft. This helicopter can function in a wide array of settings, from arid deserts to icy arctic regions, capable of transporting up to 55 personnel or ten tonnes of cargo.
With a maximum speed of 300 kilometres per hour, the newly designed H-47(ER) aircraft will possess a host of advanced features, including:
- an innovative digital cockpit
- a revamped airframe to enhance stability and boost survivability
- a digital automated flight control system allowing pilots to maintain position in low-visibility areas.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated:
From facilitating emergency repairs to UK flood barriers, providing essential logistics support during the Covid-19 pandemic to its combat operations on Afghan terrain, the Chinook has been the backbone of the Armed Forces for over 40 years.
The advanced H-47 (ER) will be at the forefront of our specialized demands in addressing threats and logistic assistance. Our investment of £1.4 billion will position us as one of the very few air forces possessing such capability.
The 14 aircraft will be acquired from the US through a Foreign Military Sales agreement and will include development and manufacturing over the next ten years. Deliveries are set to commence in 2026. The new helicopters will operate from RAF Odiham, the base of the Chinook fleet.
Commander of the Joint Helicopter Command, Air-Vice Marshal Nigel Colman remarked:
Demonstrated in both UK and international operations repeatedly over the past four decades, the Chinook remains a vital asset for UK Defence; this announcement ensures Chinook operations for the future and reflects our commitment to modernizing capabilities while preserving interoperability with key allies.
Aside from conventional warfighting duties, the Chinook enhances a wide range of specialized assignments, including Military Aid to Civil Authorities. Most recently, it played a role in the Joint Helicopter Aviation Task Force, transporting NHS paramedics, equipment, and patients during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis.
Having been introduced into service in 1981, the milestone of the 40th anniversary of the first Chinook was recently marked with a new commemorative color scheme. The oldest units in the fleet will be decommissioned, facilitating investment in the new aircraft to modernize the UK’s heavy lift capabilities.
Chinook Specifications:
- Rotor diameter – 18.29m (60 ft)
- Height – 5.68m (18 ft, 7.8 in)
- Length – 30.14m (98 ft 10.7 in)
- Fuel capacity – 3,914 litres
- Max speed – 302 kph (180 mph)
- Payload – Up to 55 personnel or approximately 10,000kg of freight
