TSAMTO, July 9. The Australian Ministry of Defense announced the delivery of the first two of the four ordered CH-47F Chinook heavy transport helicopters to the country on board the BTA C-5M Gelaxi aircraft of the US Air Force.
The delivery was made just three months after the approval of an official request sent by the Australian Ministry of Defense. The efficiency of delivery is explained by the fact that the helicopters are transferred "from the presence of the US Army". This wording is not completely clear and is not commented on by the parties. It can mean both that the supplied helicopters were in service with the US Army, and that they were on the assembly line or only ordered by the US Army.
It can be assumed that even taking into account the additional equipment, the cost of the former Chinook in operation is $ 65 million. is excessive. Thus, it is unlikely that the helicopters are transferred from among those already in service, but rather are delivered from the Boeing assembly line from among those ordered by the US military with subsequent replacement. It is noteworthy that in its statement, the Australian Ministry of Defense estimates the investment in the purchase of four CH-47FS at 595 million Australian dollars ($444 million), which is significantly higher than the amount of $ 259 million indicated in the notification of the US Congress on the sale.
As planned, the third and fourth CH-47F will be delivered by mid-2022. This delivery will increase the Australian fleet of CH-47F to 14 units. The first 10 helicopters were delivered during 2015-2016 to replace the outdated CH-47D. Before the purchase of a new batch, the average age of the existing CH-47F of the Australian Armed Forces was 5.7 years.
The new helicopters will enter service with the 5th Aviation Regiment of the Australian Army, located in Townsville (pc.Queensland).
As reported by TSAMTO, in April 2021, the US State Department approved the potential supply to Australia under the Foreign Military Sales program of 4 CH-47F Chinook transport helicopters with special modifications; 8 T55-GA-714A engines, AN/AAR-57 missile attack warning systems, as well as other related equipment and services. The total value of the sale was estimated at $ 259 million.
The reason for the purchase of American Chinooks was the problems with the operation of the MRH-90 Taipan aircraft in service with Australia, whose annual flight time is decreasing.
As stated, the Australian defense industry will participate in the maintenance of the increased Chinook fleet, which will allow additional investments in the amount of $ 69.5 million to be sent to the Australian economy. for the next 20 years.
