US Approves $1.05 Billion Chinook Cargo Helicopters Sale To Netherlands

The US State Department has approved a $1.05 billion possible Foreign Military Sale to the Netherlands for 17 CH-47F Aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced in its press release on Monday that it has delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on March 19, 2015.

The proposed sale of CH-47F aircraft will improve the Netherlands’ capability to meet current and future requirements for troop movement, medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, parachute drop, search and rescue, disaster relief, fire-fighting, and heavy construction support.

The CH-47F aircraft will supplement and eventually replace the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s aging fleet of CH-47 helicopters. The principal contractor will be the Boeing Helicopter Company. 

The Netherlands will use the enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense, deter regional threats, and provide direct support to coalition and security cooperation efforts.

The Government of the Netherlands has also requested a possible sale of 46 T55-GA-714A Aircraft Turbine Engines with Hydro-Mechanical Assembly (34 installed and 12 spares), 41 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGIs), 54 AN/ARC-231 Ultra High Frequency/Very High Frequency Radios, 21 AN/ARC-220 High Frequency Radios, 21 AN/APX-123A Identification Friend or Foe Transponders, and 41 AN/ARC-201D Very High Frequency Radios.