Australia to Get Two Additional Chinooks

CANBERRA: The Australian Army will receive two additional Boeing CH-47F Chinook tandem rotor helicopter.

Minister Defence Industry, Pat Conroy said in a statement that the two additional Chinooks were part of the Australian Government’s AUD$595 million ($investment in heavy-lift battlefield aviation capability.

Two additional CH-47F Chinook helicopters will arrive at RAAF Base Townsville after an expedited sale from the United States government. The aircraft will join the Australian Army Aviation Command’s existing 12 CH-47F Chinook medium-lift helicopters operated by C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment.

The Chinook is Defence’s largest helicopter, which has been instrumental in recent missions including Operation Bushfire Assist in 2019-20, Operation Tonga Assist in 2022 and Operation Queensland/New South Wales Flood Assist in 2022.

The Australian Defence Force has operated Boeing CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters since 1974. Thirty-two of the type have entered Australian service, comprising 12 CH-47C variants, eight CH-47Ds and 12 CH-47Fs.

Australia’s defence industry will continue to play a key role in supporting the increased Chinook fleet, with an additional AUD$69.5 million ($47.9 million) investment into the Australian economy over the next 20 years.

In March, the Australian Department of Defence announced an AUD$89 million ($61.4 million) CH-47F Chinook support contract extension with Boeing Defence Australia.–shp/adj/aaa (Image: USMC)