The U.S. Department of State has approved the sale of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinooks to Germany, along with related spares, mission equipment, training and support, at an estimated cost of $8.5 billion.
The aircraft will provide the Bundeswehr’s future heavy-lift rotary capability, and were selected for the Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (heavy transport helicopter) program in June 2022. They will replace the Bundeswehr’s aging fleet of Sikorsky CH-53Gs, and were chosen over the Sikorsky CH-53K Super Stallion for the program.
In its decision approving the purchase under the Foreign Military Sale program, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the Chinooks would improve Germany’s heavy-lift capability.
“Germany intends to use this enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats,” the DSCA said in its decision. “Germany will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and services into its armed forces.”
Boeing announced Airbus Helicopters as one of its partners on the Schwerer Transporthubschrauber program in March 2022, along with AERO-Bildung GmbH, CAE Elektronik GmbH, ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH, Lufthansa Technik, Honeywell Aerospace and Rolls-Royce Deutschland.
“The Chinook has been the preferred heavy-lift helicopter in Europe for decades and a cornerstone of all kinds of NATO operations,” said Mark Cherry, Boeing vice president and general manager, Vertical Lift programs, in the March announcement. “It is the only heavy-lift capable of providing Germany immediate interoperability with allied nations and is significantly more powerful, versatile and agile than any other aircraft in its class.”
The sale will see an estimated 30 contractor representatives deployed to Germany’s main operating bases for onsite aircraft technical, maintenance, and logistics support for three to five years.
Germany will join NATO countries including the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States of America in operating the Chinook.
