Flight trials of Australian Army CH-47D with HMAS Canberra

Australia is using an Army CH-47D Chinook to do First of Class Flight Trial with HMAS Canberra in Jervis Bay.
alert5

Netherlands to acquire 14 more CH-47F rotorcraft

Recognising the Chinook’s importance in missions such as deploying quick reaction forces and humanitarian assistance, the Dutch air force has decided to retire its 10 ageing CH-47Ds – which were delivered from 1995 – and upgrade its existing six F-model examples, which entered use from 2013.
Following their delivery from 2019, the Dutch aircraft will receive some modifications in the USA to meet the nation’s operational demands and certification standards. These will include installing crash-protected seats in the cockpit and cabin, and a VHF radio to enable secure communications with ground forces. Self-protection and icing detection equipment, a fast rope insertion and extraction system and an emergency locator transmitter will also be provided, along with a piloting function for its forward-looking infrared system.
flightglobal

Spain To Decrease Military Helicopter Types from 14 to 4

A new helicopter master plan drawn up by the Spanish Ministry of Defence (MdD) envisages the number of different models used by the services being reduced from the current 14 to four by 2040.
Three will be from Airbus Helicopters - the NH90, the H135 (formerly EC135), and the Tiger - while the fourth will be the Boeing Chinook, which will need to be upgraded.
One of the key elements will be the navy version of the NH90, for which the Armada is seeking two variants - one a maritime transport which is not yet available, plus another for anti-submarine operations.
The Hughes 500 is due to be stood down by the Armada from 2018, to be replaced by the H135, while the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea Kings will be modernised to keep them active until the arrival of the hoped-for transport replacement.
The current modernisation programme for the Agusta-Bell AB212 will enable these to keep flying until at least 2030 from the corvette-style Buque de Acción Marítima (BAMs), while the army version of the aircraft is due to be retired by 2017.
As for the army's attack helicopters, the plan says the programme to begin phasing out the MBB Bo-105 will start soon. Now the decision has been taken that the six HAP versions of its replacement, the Tiger, will not be upgraded to the HAD-E Spanish version, from around 2027 onwards the army's airmobile forces (FAMET) will operate just 18 of the latter.
In the case of the Chinook, the MdD's aim is to upgrade from the CH-47D to CH-47F versions, with a programme office being set up to handle the proposed purchase from the United States.
The training helicopters, the Airbus H120 and the Sikorsky S-76C, are due to be taken out of service from around 2027, with the replacement almost certain to be the H135. The recent reductions in the NH90 programme will also mean modernisation programmes will be needed for the army's Airbus Super Puma and Cougar.
janes

U.S. Marines, Spanish Soldiers Train Helicopter Heavy Lift Capabilities

U.S. Marines assigned to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response – Africa trained with Spanish soldiers from Transport Helicopter Battalion 5 in externally sling loading heavy equipment at Spanish Helicopter Base Coronel Mate, Colmenar de Viejo, Spain, Nov. 18 -19, 2014.
During the multi-day event, the Marines and Spanish soldiers conducted training in helicopter support teams, sling loading equipment to a Spanish Army CH-47 Chinook. The training event included day and night operations in which they lifted water bladders and vehicles by a single-point sling load, using only one lift cable; dual-point sling load, using two lift cables; and tandem lifts, lifting two water bladders or trucks at the same time.
The training event allowed the Marines and soldiers to sustain technical skills while enhancing operational capacity between the Spanish Military and U.S. Marines, strengthening their partnership.
SPMAGTF-CR-AF is rapid response force able to conduct a broad range of military operations in U.S. Africa Command’s operational region, including: U.S. Embassy reinforcement, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, rescue of downed pilots, and other missions as directed.
marines.mil

DSCA Approves Sale of 14 Chinooks to South Korea

A $151 million deal for 14 Boeing CH-47D Chinook cargo helicopters to South Korea has gotten the green light from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
Released under the Foreign Military Sales program, the Dec. 3 DSCA notification said the aircraft will be sold and transferred to South Korea incrementally once the US Army begins taking receipt of new-production CH-47F model aircraft.
The 14 CH-47Ds are currently operated by US Forces Korea in South Korea.
The US Army will not replace the CH-47D aircraft being sold and transferred to South Korea.
defensenews

USA may sell 14 used CH-47Ds to South Korea

South Korea could obtain 14 used Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopters from US army forces stationed in the country.
The deal would be conducted under the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism.
If the sale is approved, the aircraft would be transferred to South Korean forces incrementally as US army units take delivery of new-build CH-47Fs.
The DSCA has not given a timeframe for the proposed deal.
flightglobal

Acaba el repliegue aéreo en Afganistán

Con la llegada este sábado a la base de Torrejón (Madrid) de los últimos tres helicópteros desplegados en Afganistán, concluye el repliegue de las unidades de helicópteros que han operado en Herat durante ocho años, en los que han realizado 6.405 horas de vuelo y casi 12.000 salidas en labores de protección y evacuación médica.
Con la vuelta a España de los helicópteros se habrá culminado el 95 por ciento del repliegue de material de la misión en Afganistán.
El pasado 9 de noviembre aterrizó en la base madrileña un avión Antonov 124,con un Cougar y un Chinook, del Ejército de Tierra, y un Súper Puma, del Ejército del Aire, los tres últimos helicópteros que mantenía la misión española en Afganistán.
Se trata del tercer vuelo procedente de Afganistán para trasladar a suelo español los nueve helicópteros que permanecían en la base de Herat, operados por unidades del Ejército de Tierra y el Ejército del Aire. El pasado lunes llegaron los tres helicópteros de combate «Tigre» desplegados en Afganistán desde el pasado marzo.
Durante su estancia en Afganistán estos helicópteros de ataque llevaron a cabo misiones de apoyo específico a las tropas españolas, como dar seguridad a convoyes de repliegue desde la base de Qala i Naw hasta la base de Herat, labores de reconocimiento y de apoyo a otros contingentes.
Su última misión, el pasado 13 de octubre, puso fin a más de ocho años de actividad de la Unidad de Helicópteros del Ejército de Tierra (ASPUHEL) y del destacamento de Helicópteros del Ejército del Aire de la Fuerza Internacional de Asistencia a la Seguridad (HELISAF). ASPUHEL comenzó a operar en Herat con cuatro helicópteros de transporte AS-532 «Cougar» a principios de 2005, a los que se sumaron en 2007 tres helicópteros de transporte pesado CH-47D «Chinook». Por su parte, HELISAF mantuvo desplegados HD-21 «Superpuma» realizando misiones de evacuación médica.
Quedan Afganistán unidad de apoyo logístico, un avión de transporte Hércules, el hospital Role 2, la unidad PASI que opera los aviones no tripulados y los efectivos que se encargan de la gestión del aeropuerto.
abc

Boeing finaliza la actualización del helicóptero Chinook del Ejército de Tierra español

Boeing ha concluido con la actualización del helicóptero CH-47D Chinook para las Fuerzas Aeromóviles del Ejército de Tierra Español (FAMET) según el calendario estipulado.El programa de colaboración industrial ha durado diez años. En la modernización han participado 20 compañías e instituciones españolas. Boeing colabora también con ISDEFE en el programa del sistema de control de armas Harpoon, actividad que finalizará en 2012. Los Chinook CH-47D españoles estan adscritos el batallón de Helicópteros de Transporte nº 5 (BHELTRA V) con base en Colmenar Viejo (Madrid). Tierra cuenta con 17 unidades de las 19 adquiridos. Su misión principal de Chinook es transportar artillería, tropas, provisiones y combustible al centro de operaciones. Cada uno de ellos está armado con tres ametralladoras M60.