Chinook Product Improvement Program

Abstract

Program Element (PE) 0607137A Chinook Product Improvement Program is critical to achieving the Army's heavy lift Joint All Domain Operational capability. With an increased payload and operational reach, the CH-47F Block II is the only platform that can lift the JLTV, M777 and medium girder bridge to enable Joint All Domain Forces to Compete, Penetrate, Disintegrate, and Exploit at operationally relevant distances. The CH-47F Block II acquisition program upgrades existing CH-47F aircraft and procures common hardware that exists between the CH-47F and MH-47G aircraft for Special Operations Forces. The CH-47F Block II program provides additional capability to the field with greater reach, increased payload capability and an increase in maximum gross weight to 54,000 pounds. These improvements are based on airframe and subcomponent changes. Specifically, the Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades will increase lift in high-hot conditions while improved flight control and drive train components will both increase aircraft performance and reduce O&S costs. The program updates the Common Avionics Architecture System and Digital Advanced Flight Control System systems of the aircraft and incorporates other avionics changes introduced into the final CH-47F production lots. CH-47F Block II will also include a strengthened airframe which introduces commonality with the MH-47G and improvements to rotor, fuel, and electrical systems which will improve safety and reliability for the aircraft. Along with providing a significantly increased capability to the field, the program includes provisions for anticipated future upgrades as well as weight and cost savings initiatives to ensure the Army has a platform with the flexibility and performance needed to meet the needs of Joint All Domain Operations until a Heavy Future Vertical Lift variant is fielded. The Cargo Project Management Office awarded the CH-47F Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract in July 2017. The EMD phase produced three production representative test articles to support contractor and government led system level qualification testing. The contractor led system level qualification testing includes both ground and flight test. The government led system level qualification testing includes Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3), Limited User Test (LUT), and aircraft subsystem Live-Fire Test and Evaluation (LFTE).

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2022
Source ID
0607137A_7_2040_PB_2022
Change Summary Explanation
Increase in PB22 due to continuation of flight test operations in support of EMD system level qualification and Matrix and Contractor Support needed to align support requirements for approved development activities.
Service Agency Name
Army

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Composite Materials
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Engineering
  • Flight Control Systems
  • Logistics Support
  • Maintenance Costs
  • Manufacturing
  • Procurement
  • Project Management
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Software Engineering

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