Army gets two extra Chinook helicopters

Two additional CH-47F Chinook helicopters arrived at RAAF Base Townsville today after an expedited sale from the United States government.

FILE PHOTO: An Australian Army CH-47F Chinook takes off from Mount Hagen Airport during Operation PNG Assist 2018. Photo by Corporal Oliver Carter.

The two additional aircraft will join the Australian Army Aviation Command’s existing 12 CH-47F Chinook medium-lift helicopters operated by C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment.

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said the two additional Chinooks were part of a $595 million investment in heavy-lift battlefield aviation capability.

“The Chinook is Defence’s largest helicopter, which has been instrumental in recent missions including Operation Bushfire Assist in 2019-20, Operation Tonga Assist in 2022 and Operation Queensland/New South Wales Flood Assist in 2022,” Minister Conroy said.

“The helicopters will provide Defence with additional lift capacity and strengthen Army’s ability to support operations globally.

“We thank our United States counterparts, including the United States Army, for their support in this rapid acquisition.”

Australia’s defence industry will continue to play a key role in supporting the increased Chinook fleet, with an additional $69.5 million investment into the Australian economy over the next 20 years.

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