Boeing CH-47F Chinook Helicopter Fielded by 5th US Army Unit

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Boeing CH-47F Chinook Helicopter Fielded by 5th US Army Unit
UNITED STATES - 6 JANUARY 2010

Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced that a fifth U.S. Army unit has fielded the CH-47F Chinook helicopter. The 6th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Fort Campbell, Ky., completed all required training and officially assumed operation of 12 CH-47F Chinooks on Dec. 8.

"I am proud of B Company for completing the CH-47F New Equipment Fielding and Training Program. Together, the Pachyderms and Boeing worked extremely hard to accomplish all the required tasks to make this happen in preparation for our next deployment," said Lt. Col. Brad Ninness, Commander, 6th Battalion, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. "The technological advantages and improvements in the CH-47F increase our capabilities and allow us to better support the soldier on the ground."

The Army certified the CH-47F as combat-ready in 2007. The first four units equipped with the new Chinook have deployed in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and the aircraft continues to perform as an asset for the Army.

"The CH-47F is proving its exceptional capability every day in combat operations," said Leanne Caret, vice president, Boeing H-47 Programs. "This advanced aircraft significantly increases the unit's capability in harsh environments and high-altitude operations to meet a growing range of mission demands."

The CH-47F, built at Boeing's Rotorcraft Systems facility in Ridley Township, features a newly designed, modernized airframe, a Rockwell Collins Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit and a BAE Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS).

The CAAS greatly improves aircrew situational awareness, while DAFCS provides dramatically improved flight-control capabilities through the entire flight envelope, significantly improved performance, and safety in the harshest of environments.

CAAS also incorporates an advanced digital map display and a data transfer system that allows storing of preflight and mission data. Improved survivability features include the Common Missile Warning and Improved Countermeasure Dispenser systems.

Powered by two 4,733-horsepower Honeywell engines, the new CH-47F can reach speeds greater than 175 mph and transport more than 21,000 pounds. The CH-47F, with its Robertson Aviation Extended Range Fuel System, has a mission radius of more than 400 nautical miles.




Source: The Boeing Company

 

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BAE Systems' Advanced Threat IR Countermeasures System Credited With Saving Helicopters In Combat Operations
14 APRIL 2010

BAE Systems' Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system is being fielded on U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopters, and has already been credited with defeating infrared-guided missiles since it went into service on the Chinook fleet six months ago.

The ATIRCM system is a laser-based, directable countermeasures system that protects helicopters against attack by missiles. Since its fielding, ATIRCM has exceeded all reliability performance objectives and provided 100 percent operational availability for the mission.

"ATIRCM was put to the test in a complex situation where Chinook aircraft were engaged by multiple infrared, man-portable air-defense missiles," said Jim Crouch, vice president and general manager of survivability and protection solutions for BAE Systems. "Defeating the threat is the ultimate measure of its worth, and ATIRCM has provided the warfighter confidence in the aircraft's survivability while performing the mission in hostile locations."

The ATIRCM provides passive warning of a missile approach using BAE Systems' AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning System (CMWS), which detects the missile, rejects any false alarms, and cues the ATIRCM jam head to the missile's location. When the jam head locates the missile with its IR tracking system, it emits a high-energy beam to defeat the missile's infrared seeker. The fielded inventory of the AN/ALQ-212(V) ATIRCM/CMWS suite has greatly enhanced overall aircraft survivability against current and evolving threats.

"The ATIRCM suite has proven to be the most reliable laser-based, directable countermeasures system on combat helicopters today," added Crouch. "We are rapidly fielding this system so that all deployed Chinooks are protected against IR-guided missile threats. This technology is saving lives, and we'll continue to deliver the best-possible protection for the warfighter."

BAE Systems is the lead systems integrator for the ATIRCM/CMWS suite. The company has invested in infrastructure to support the program and maintains field personnel who perform real-time ATIRCM/CMWS suite assessment, maintenance, and upgrades.


Source: BAE Systems

 

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Boeing CH-47F Chinook Fielded by U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division
UNITED STATES - 3 AUGUST 2010

The Boeing [NYSE: BA] CH-47F Chinook helicopter was fielded July 30 by the U.S. Army's B Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, N.Y. The 10th Mountain Division is the sixth Army unit to be trained and equipped with the aircraft.

"I am extremely excited that Boeing and the New Equipment Training Team were able to field and train the company on the F model Chinook so quickly," said Capt. Michael Farrell, Company B commander. "With such a short period of time between deployments, this really helped us focus on collective training."

With fielding complete, the unit will begin advanced mission training in the new aircraft, conducting simulated assault, troop-transport and cargo-movement exercises. The 10th also will practice high mountain operations that use the advanced features of the CH-47F.

"Fielding and training the 10th Mountain Division is a proud moment for all of us at Boeing," said Leanne Caret, vice president, Boeing H-47 Programs. "Everyone on the program is focused on the needs of the warfighter, and that is reflected in the aircraft we build and deliver every day."

The Chinook is built at Boeing’s Ridley Township, Pa., facility and features a newly designed, modernized airframe, Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) cockpit and Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS). The CAAS greatly improves aircrew situational awareness, and DAFCS provides dramatically improved flight-control capabilities through the entire flight envelope, significantly improved performance, and safety in the harshest of environments.


Source: The Boeing Company