Chinook Product Improvement Program

Abstract

Program Element (PE) 0607137A Chinook Product Improvement Program is critical to achieving heavy lift for the Army of 2030 Operational capability. With an increased payload and operational reach, the CH-47F Block II is the only platform that can lift the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), M777 and medium girder bridge to enable Army of 2030 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. The CH-47F Block II program reduces O&S costs and provides additional capability to the field with greater reach, increased payload capability and an increase in maximum gross weight to 54,000 pounds. CH-47F Block II upgrades include a strengthened airframe, improvements to rotor, fuel, and electrical systems, which will improve safety and reliability for the aircraft. The program updates the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) and Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS) software packages of the aircraft and incorporates other avionics changes introduced into the final CH-47F production lots. Along with providing 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 Army of 2030 Operations. The Cargo Project Management Office awarded the CH-47F Block II Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract in July 2017. The EMD phase produced three production representative test articles to support an acquisition decision. This phase includes contractor and government led ground and flight system level qualification testing, which requires Electromagnetic Environmental Effects (E3), operation assessments, and aircraft subsystem Live-Fire Test and Evaluation (LFTE). On 27 September 2021, the Army provided direction to remove the Advanced Chinook Rotor Blade (ACRB) from the CH-47F Block II system configuration, and replace them with the currently fielded Fiberglass Rotor Blades (FRB) for the duration of the EMD phase.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 0607137A_7_2040_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: Decreased funding to support higher Army priorities.
• Service Agency Name: Army

Entities

Organizations

• United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Aircraft Equipment
• Aircrafts
• Contracts
• Control Systems
• Engineering
• Fabrication
• Fiberglass
• Flight Control Systems
• Flight Testing
• Logistics Support
• Maintenance Costs
• Manufacturing
• Procurement
• Project Management
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
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