Britain’s defense secretary has committed to a deal to acquire a new fleet of Boeing-built extended-range Chinook helicopters. Fourteen CH-47-ER Chinooks will be delivered to the Royal Air Force, mainly for use by British special forces, under the agreement signed between the British and U.S. governments. The procurement, known as the Chinook Capability Sustainment Program, is set to advance. Originally confirmed in May 2021, negotiations for the deal were hindered by British concerns about cost growth. The baseline budget for the program was £1.5 billion ($1.9 billion USD) but costs increased due to inflation, foreign exchange rates, and other issues.
Negotiations with the U.S. government resulted in a cost reduction of over £300 million, providing value for money while delivering cutting-edge heavy lift capability to the armed forces. The delivery schedule for the new airframes has not been disclosed, but the first delivery is expected in 2027 with a manufacturing program completion by 2029. The 14 oldest Chinooks in the Royal Air Force fleet will be retired as the new helicopters enter service, maintaining the fleet size at 51 aircraft. The extended-range Chinooks will double the range of standard CH-47s and help fill a special forces capability gap.
Boeing expressed anticipation in delivering the helicopters, and this procurement marks the second major British helicopter acquisition. In late February, the defense ministry initiated a competition to replace Puma and other smaller helicopters under the New Medium Helicopter program, with Airbus, Leonardo, and Lockheed Martin expected to participate.
