The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency has notified Congress of a possible foreign military sale of CH-47F Chinook multi-mission helicopter, related equipment and support to Australia.
Approved by the State Department, the possible sale will include major defence equipment (MDE) such as three CH-47F Chinook helicopters, six T55-GA-714A aircraft turbine engines and three force XXI battle command, brigade and below (FBCB2) / blue force tracker (BFT).
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Additionally, the package includes three common missile warning systems (CMWS), three Honeywell H-764 embedded global positioning / inertial navigation systems and three infrared signature suppression systems.
The total estimated value of MDE is $105m, while the total overall estimated value of the sale is $180m.
Australia has also requested the sale of non-MDE that includes AN / APX-123A identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders, defence advanced global positioning system (GPS) receiver (DAGR), AN / ARC-201D SINCGARS airborne radio systems, AN / ARC-220 high frequency airborne communication systems and AN / ARC-231(V)(C) airborne VHF / UHF / LOS Satcom communications systems among others.
Boeing Helicopter Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, will be the principal contractor.
Scheduled to replace Australia's retiring CH-47D aircraft, the CH-47F aircraft is expected to enhance the country's heavy lift capability and will be deployed to strengthen its homeland defence and deter regional threats.
Powered by Honeywell T55-GA-714A engines, the CH-47F Chinook is an upgraded version of the D model, and is used for military, humanitarian, disaster relief, search and rescue, and fire-fighting operations.
It is used by the UK and US armies, as well as the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Image: Soldiers prepare to board a CH-47 Chinook Fox model. Photo: courtesy of Sgt. Michael R. Caya.
