U.S. Army Expands Heavy-Lift Fleet with $461M Order for 9 CH-47F Block II Chinooks

The U.S. Army has awarded Boeing two contracts worth a combined $461 million to produce nine CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters, strengthening its heavy-lift modernization program.

The latest Lot 4 and Lot 5 orders bring the total number of CH-47F Block II aircraft under contract to 18.

The awards follow the Army’s recent Rapid Fielding production decision, marking a key milestone in advancing the program. Boeing said it is already collaborating with the Army on a path forward for Lot 6 production.

So far, six CH-47F Block II production aircraft have been delivered and are undergoing evaluation to verify their performance improvements.

The Block II variant features upgrades that include an enhanced drivetrain and airframe, increasing the helicopter’s maximum gross weight by 4,000 pounds to expand lift capacity. Modifications to the fuel system also extend operational range, while the design allows for affordable future upgrades to sustain operations for at least another four decades.