According to a press release published by Boeing on March 4, 2022, the firm extends its partnership with the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) with an order for six additional MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters. The award, valued at $195 million, brings the total number of MH-47G Block II aircraft under contract with the USASOAC to 36.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
MH-47G Chinook helicopter (Picture source: Boeing)
The upgraded MH-47G Block II Chinook features improved structure and weight reduction initiatives that increase the aircraft’s performance and efficiency, allowing for extended lift and range.
Boeing has delivered five MH-47G Block II aircraft to date. Deliveries of the new order are scheduled to begin in 2024, with production to primarily take place at Boeing’s Philadelphia site.
The MH-47G is used in heavy-lift missions such as the transportation of troops, ammunition, vehicles, equipment, fuel and supplies, as well as civil and humanitarian relief missions. The helicopter can conduct long-range missions at a low level, in adverse weather conditions during the day and at night.
The helicopter is armed with two M134 7.62mm electrically operated, air-cooled miniguns and two M240 7.62mm belt-fed machine guns mounted on either side of the fuselage at the forward and rear sections.
