As reported by the Bloomberg news agency, the United Kingdom has concluded an intergovernmental agreement with the US Department of Defense on the acquisition of 14 Boeing CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters for the British Air Force. As you can understand, we are talking about an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters (Letters of Offer and Acceptance-LOA) within the framework of the American program of intergovernmental foreign military sales (FMS), the letters are dated March 25, 2021. The cost of the agreement is about $ 2 billion.
Boeing Chinook NS transport helicopters.6 British Air Force (c) Connor Payne / British Air Force
At the same time, it is reported that the delivery of helicopters will begin no earlier than 2024 and will continue until the end of 2030, which the British side motivates by the need to redistribute costs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The UK will be supplied with helicopters in the CH-47F(ER) modification with an extended range, although the exact configuration of the ordered helicopters is not disclosed. Earlier in October 2018, the US Department of Defense's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) sent a notification to the US Congress about the planned sale of 16 H-47F(ER) helicopters and equipment to the UK through the FMS, and the provision of appropriate technical support and training, with the estimated cost of delivery then estimated at $ 3.5 billion.
Purchased 14 CH-47F(ER) helicopters (intended British designation Chinook NS. 7 or NS.8) should replace some of the oldest Chinook NS helicopters in the British Air Force.6A, which are upgraded helicopters of the CH-47C version, acquired by the UK in the early 1980s. The UK is the largest operator of Chinook helicopters after the US, having used them since 1980. Currently, the British Air Force has 60 Chinook helicopters (out of a total of 72 purchased), including eight versions of the NS.5, 14 NS.6 and 38 NS. 6A.
