Boeing has delivered the first MH-47G Block II Chinook to the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
The delivery comes around a month after the company secured a $265m order to deliver additional nine MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters, designed for heavy-lift missions.
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Overall, Boeing is contracted to deliver 24 such units.
Boeing vice-president and H-47 programme manager Andy Builta said: “This delivery marks a major step for the Chinook programme.
“The new Chinook will give US Special Operations Forces significantly more capability for extremely challenging missions and will enable them to conduct those missions on the future battlefield.”
The MH-47G Block II Chinook is an upgraded variant of the model with an improved structure. It features new lighter weight fuel pods to improve performance, efficiency, and commonality across the fleet.
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By GlobalDataThese heavy-lift helicopters are expected to improve the capability of the US Armed Forces for challenging missions.
The delivery was made by Boeing’s Philadelphia plant where the helicopters are being assembled.
Boeing employs more than 4,600 people in Pennsylvania to support Chinook, the V-22 Osprey, MH-139A Grey Wolf and a number of other programmes.
Boeing also delivered the 2,500th AH-64 Apache helicopter to the US Army this year. It achieved the milestone after handing over an E-model Apache helicopter to the army.
Earlier this year, the company announced a $25bn bond deal to sail through the Covid-19 crisis without federal aid. The move was announced after the company reported a Q1 loss of $641m.
