Boeing begins CH-47F Block 2 Lot 1 production as US Army ponders wider upgrade

Boeing has begun the CH-47F Block 2 Lot 1 build that was contracted by the US Army in October 2021. The service has yet to make a decision on implementing the upgrade to the wider fleet. (US Army)

Boeing has begun upgrading the first CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter to the Block 2 standard, while the US Army continues to deliberate on implementing upgrade to the wider fleet.

The manufacturer announced the milestone on 4 April, noting that the aft pylon of the first CH-47F Block 1 helicopter to go through the upgrade had been removed as the first stage in the remanufacturing process.

“Thanks to the large inventory and durability of Chinook aircraft, the [US] Army is able to start their modernisation efforts at an affordable price, without sacrificing current mission readiness,” Heather McBryan, director of Business Development for Boeing Cargo Helicopters and Future Vertical Lift (FVL) programmes, was quoted as saying.

The early induction work is being performed not far from Boeing's Chinook production facility in Philadelphia by Summit Aviation, one of more than 360 suppliers and partners that support Chinook production. “The first aircraft is now in the induction process, which on average takes 20 days. Once the tear down of the aircraft is complete, select aircraft parts will return to Boeing and Team Chinook suppliers for restoration and progress to the next stage of production,” Boeing said.

The US Army contracted Boeing to launch Lot 1 of the Block 2 upgrade for the CH-47F in October 2021. This first batch of helicopters are to be delivered from early 2023.