Yesterday, the Budget Committee of the German Parliament approved the procurement of Chinooks as new Heavy Transport Helicopters (STH) for the Bundeswehr. For the $8.5 billion Bundeswehr will not only receive 60 Chinook Block IIs with air-to-air refuelling, but also spare parts, additional systems, maintenance and programme support.
“With the selection decision for CH-47F Block II last year, a landmark decision was made for the future air mobility of Bundeswehr,” an air force spokesman said to Behörden Spiegel. “The helicopters are to form the backbone in Bundeswehr for rapid air transport of vehicles, material and personnel. This applies to deployment within the framework of national and alliance defence as well as missions abroad.”
Currently, Bundeswehr uses CH-53 as transport helicopters, but they were procured more than 50 years ago. “Due to the increasing challenges in ensuring operational readiness, introduction of a successor system is necessary,” the air force spokesman describes. “The helicopter will be gradually introduced into the Air Force over a period of years and will successively take over CH-53’s mission without a break. Analogously, the ‘old’ CH-53s will be decommissioned step by step.”
“German Bundestag Budget Committee’s positive vote for the procurement of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook confirms confidence not only in the Chinook’s combat-proven and unmatched capabilities, but also in Boeing and our industry team,” Boeing said, pleased with the decision. “Together with our Chinook Germany team – Aero-Bildung, Airbus Helicopters, CAE, ESG, Honeywell, Rolls-Royce Deutschland, Lufthansa Technik – we are committed to providing the best possible support for Bundeswehr’s requirements for a new Heavy Transport Helicopter (STH). The CH-47F Chinook is a proven and extremely capable multi-role helicopter. It has served as a proven workhorse for numerous NATO missions for many years and will significantly strengthen Germany’s interoperability with the U.S., NATO and allied nations. We are pleased to deliver CH-47F Block II Chinook to the Bundeswehr.”
Dorothee Frank, Head of editorial team
