The U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) has awarded a new contract to Boeing for the acquisition of five additional MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters. This contract follows USASOAC’s purchase of four MH-47G Block II aircraft in 2024.
On March 27, Boeing officially announced that it had secured a new agreement with the U.S. Army for the production of a new batch of MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters. According to a brief press release, the contract is valued at approximately $240 million, with the first deliveries expected in early 2027. The complete MH-47G Block II Chinook fleet for USASOAC is projected to be finalized by early 2030.
As previously mentioned, in 2024, the Special Operations Aviation Command placed another order for two units, bringing the total to 46 aircraft at a cost of $115 million. With this new contract, the Army’s fleet will expand to 51 MH-47G Block II helicopters.
The MH-47G Block II Chinook is one of several helicopters operated by the U.S. Army’s special operations community, specifically by the legendary 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (160th SOAR), commonly known as the “Night Stalkers.” This special operations unit employs a wide range of rotary-wing aircraft, including the Chinook, the agile AH/MH-6M Little Bird, and numerous variants of the popular MH-60 Black Hawk. These assets are complemented by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including the MQ-1C Grey Eagle.
The MH-47G Block II Chinook introduces various upgrades over its predecessor, including an improved airframe. To reduce weight, new lighter fuel tanks have been installed. The Block II also features a fully integrated digital management system, a full-glass cockpit with five multifunction liquid crystal displays (compatible with night vision goggles), and two control display units, among other enhancements.
Some of the upgrades introduced in the Block II are also being applied to the latest version of the CH-47F Chinook, including an improved drivetrain, enhanced flight controls, as well as upgraded electrical and fuel systems. According to forecasts from the U.S. Army Special Operations Aviation Command, the fleet is expected to exceed seventy MH-47G Block II helicopters.
Since entering service with the Army Special Operations Aviation community, CH-47 Chinooks have become one of the preferred platforms due to their capabilities and performance. Over the years, the MH-47 has been continuously improved based on battlefield experience, where the aircraft has been and continues to be tested under the most demanding conditions and geographic environments.
*Images used for illustrative purposes.
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