TSAMTO, February 4. On January 28, at the Coronel Mate base in Colmenar Viejo, a ceremony was held for the transfer of the first Chinook helicopter upgraded by Boeing to the CH-47F version to the country's Ground Forces.
The event was attended by Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles and U.S. Ambassador to Spain Julissa Reynoso Pantaleon.
The purpose of the modernization program is to extend the life of helicopters in the period up to 2050 (and beyond) by equipping them with digital aerobatic systems, more modern communication systems, and a digital self-defense system. The program also provides for the modernization of simulators installed in the training center of the Army Aviation Academy (ACAVIET). The upgrade will allow the Chinook to be used in conjunction with Tiger and NH-90 helicopters.
As reported by TSAMTO, in April 2018, the US State Department approved the potential supply of 17 CH-47F Chinook helicopters with unique customer modifications, as well as related equipment and services worth up to $1.3 billion to Spain under the Foreign Military Sales program.
Later it became known that we are talking about the modernization of the existing CH-47D helicopters in Spain. In September 2018, the Spanish government approved the conclusion of a contract with Boeing for the modernization of Chinook helicopters with a total cost of 819.23 million euros. In January 2019, Boeing confirmed that it would modernize all 17 CH-47D Chinook helicopters (national designation HT.17) REDUCED to the "F" configuration by adding components such as a digital automatic flight control system, avionics of the CAAS standard (Common Avionics Architecture System) and an improved loading/unloading system, which will allow them to be unified with the equipment of other countries. According to the estimates of the Spanish Air Ministry, the new version of the "F" will require significantly less maintenance time (by 56%) per hour of flight.
The first helicopter was delivered by sea to the Coronel Mate base in Colmenar Viejo on November 26, 2021. Its tests began on January 17, 2022.
It is expected that 4 more upgraded CH-47F helicopters will be delivered to Spain in 2022, which will make it possible to achieve initial readiness for combat use by the end of the year. Another 7 helicopters are due to arrive in 2023, and the full delivery will be completed in 2024.
