Boeing to Extend Australian Army Chinook Fleet Support

Australia has awarded Boeing a 41-million Australian dollar ($28.8 million) contract to extend support services for 14 Australian Army CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters.

Under the contract, Boeing will continue to provide maintenance, training, and sustainment services for the Townsville-based fleet over the next five years.

Work will be conducted in Oakey and Brisbane in Queensland.

“Chinooks have formed a significant component of Australia’s contribution to battlefield aviation capability,” Defence Australia Joint Aviation System Division First Assistant Secretary Shane Fairweather stated.

“The Australian Defence Force has a longstanding history with Chinooks. The platform has a reputation for consistently delivering effective, safe and affordable capability for Defence.”

The agreement follows the addition of two Chinooks to the Australian Army Aviation Command’s 12 CH-47Fs operated by the C Squadron 5th Aviation Regiment in 2022.

Opportunities for Queensland Industry

The contract extension will add 15 positions and three apprenticeship roles leveraging Queensland industry personnel, according to the defense department.

“The CH-47F Chinook fleet [provides] critical lift capability on several domestic and regional operations, including Bushfire Assist in 2020, and Tonga and Flood Assist in 2022,” Fairweather said.

“This contract extension will expand the maintenance and training support for our Chinook fleet, while boosting opportunities for defence industry in Queensland.”