To keep it relevant and enhance capabilities for upcoming operations, the US Army is modernizing its decades-old Chinook transport chopper.
The US Army is upgrading its workhorse transport helicopter, the Chinook, which has been in service since the 1960s and was heavily used in counterterrorism and counterinsurgency campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The latest variant, the MH-47G, is relied upon by US special operators for nighttime raids and missions far behind enemy lines, and it could also be valuable in a conventional conflict with near-peer adversaries like China and Russia. The Pentagon recently awarded Boeing a contract worth nearly $18.75 million to replace aging parts on the MH-47G and make upgrades to “maximize commonality” with the newest version of the conventional Chinook, the CH-47F Block II. The MH-47G is a heavily armed helicopter that can stealthily insert and exfiltrate special operators over long ranges, making it an essential platform for large-scale operations. The upgrades will improve its capabilities and maintain its relevance for years to come.Â
