CH-47D/MH-47E CHINOOK HEAVY LIFT HELICOPTER, USA
The CH-47D Chinook helicopter carries out transportation of troops, artillery, supplies and equipment to the battlefield. Other roles include medical evacuation, aircraft recovery, parachute drop, search and rescue, disaster relief, firefighting and heavy construction. 163 CH-47Ds took part in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
Over 1,000 Chinooks are operational worldwide. Boeing has delivered more than 480 CH-47D Chinooks to the US Army and National Guard. Boeing has also exported the helicopter to military and commercial operators in Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom and three Far East countries. Chinooks are under licensed production by Agusta of Italy and Kawasaki in Japan. Chinooks built by Agusta have been exported to Egypt, Greece, Iran, Libya and Morocco.
397 of the US Army CH-47D helicopters are being upgraded to CH-47F standard, which features: a new cockpit structure which will reduce vibration; new Rockwell Collins digital cockpit with moving map display and digital modem; BAE Systems Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS); and more powerful Honeywell T55-GA-714A engine with FADEC (Full Authority Digital Engine Control). The LRIP contract for seven systems was signed in January 2003. Deliveries began in July 2004 and will conclude in 2018.
In December 2003, the US Army ordered seven new CH-46F helicopters to replace those lost in action and, in January 2005, an additional ten new-build CH-47F helicopters. Deliveries are scheduled for 2006-08. A further 38 helicopters are planned for procurement.
US Army Special Operations Forces also operate 36 Special Operations Chinooks, designated as MH-47D and MH-47E. These aircraft are being upgraded to MH-47G standard with a fully integrated digital Common Avionics Architecture System. The first was delivered in May 2004.
CH-47 SUPER-D
The latest international model is the CH-47SD which incorporates a glass cockpit with integrated cockpit management system, automated flight controls, colour digital displays and full authority digital engine control. The CH-47SD has 2,068 gallon fuel tanks doubling the range of the 47D, and a longer nose for radar antennas. The Honeywell engine has also been upgraded. Taiwan has ordered three CH-47SD under a FMS (foreign military sale) program.
COCKPIT
The cockpit accommodates two pilots and an observer. An advanced digital cockpit has been developed by Boeing and Honeywell. The cockpit is equipped with multifunction liquid crystal displays and electronic flight instruments. The crew is equipped with ANVIS-7 night vision goggles from Elbit and the cockpit is night vision goggle (NVG) compatible
The communications suite includes jam resistant HF and UHF radio systems developed and supplied by Rockwell Collins and Raytheon. The helicopter is equipped with an
AN/APX-100 identification friend or foe (IFF) interrogator from AlliedSignal.
WEAPONS
Three machine guns can be mounted on the helicopter, two in the crew door on the starboard side and one window-mounted on the port side.
COUNTERMEASURES
The Chinook is equipped with a suite of countermeasures systems selected by the customer country. The Special Forces variant of the Chinook, MH-47E, is fitted with the ATK AN/AAR-47 missile approach warner, Northrop Grumman ALQ-162 Shadowbox jammer, ITT ALQ-136(V) pulse jammer, Raytheon APR-39A radar warner and BAE Systems Integrated Defense Solutions (formerly Tracor) M-130 chaff and flare dispenser. The helicopter is equipped with a Rockwell Collins CP1516-ASQ target hand-off system. Australian Chinooks are being fitted with EADS AN/AAR-60 MILDS missile warning system.
SENSORS
The MH-47E is equipped with an advanced radar system, the Raytheon AN/APQ-174A for terrain following flight, air-to-ground ranging and ground mapping. A Raytheon AN/AAQ-16 forward looking infrared (FLIR) is installed in the nose of the helicopter and the cockpit is fitted with a moving map display.
CARGO SYSTEMS
The Chinook has a triple hook system which provides stability to large external loads or the capacity for multiple external loads. Large external loads such as 155mm howitzers can be transported at speeds up to 260km/h using the triple hook load configuration. Multiple external loads can be delivered to three separate destinations in one sortie. The central hook is rated to carry up to 12,000kg and the other two hooks 7,500kg each.
The cabin provides 42mó of cargo space and 21mò of cargo floor area and can accommodate two HMMWVs (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) or a HMMWV together with 105mm howitzer and gun crew. The main cabin can hold from 33 fully equipped troops to 50 troops according to the seating arrangements and equipment being carried. For medical evacuation the cabin can accommodate 24 litters (stretchers).
Ramp operations can be carried out on water using an optional power down ramp and water dam configuration.
ENGINES
The helicopter is equipped with two T55-L-712 turboshaft engines from Honeywell (formerly AlliedSignal), which are pod-mounted on either side of the rear pylon under the rear rotor blades. The engine provides a continuous power of 3,000shp and maximum power of 3,750shp. The Honeywell T55-714 engine, which is being fitted to CH-47D, F and G models, is equipped with FADEC (Full Authority Digital Electronic Control) from Goodrich.
The self-sealing fuel tanks are mounted in external fairings on the sides of the fuselage. The fixed tanks hold 3,900 litres of fuel. Three additional fuel tanks can be carried in the cargo area. The range of the helicopter can be extended by in-flight refuelling.
AirForce-Technology