With the US Army shortly to launch a full-rate Block 2 retrofit programme for its existing Block 1 (pictured) fleet of Chinook helicopters, Boeing anticipates strong international interest in the configuration. (US Army)
The US Army's anticipated decision to authorise full-rate production of the Block 2 version of the CH-47F Chinook will likely fuel renewed international interest in the heavy-lift helicopter, a senior Boeing official told Janes and other defence media on 26 February.
Speaking at the IQPC International Military Helicopter (IMH) 2025 conference in London, Mark Ballew, senior director, business development for vertical lift at Boeing, said that the expected awarding of Milestone C in the coming weeks will help drive international sales beyond the 18 existing (excluding Iran) non-US customer base.
“We are working towards a Milestone C acquisition decision, which from the US side confirms it as a programme of record. The timing for that would be this spring [second quarter], and whatever they finalise the programme of record to be, it facilitates what the international world is looking for because they see that there is a clear commitment coming from the US,” Ballew said.
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