The H-47 Chinook has been the world’s first class, top flight heavy lift helicopter since it first came on the scene during the Vietnam War. It is still today the world’s most capable and reliable heavy lift helicopter and the reason is that it has been constantly updated and improved. It may appear to be the same helicopter that was flown years ago, but the truth is it is a vastly different helicopter and it only shares the silhouette with its early predecessors.
The drivetrain, transmissions, and rotor shafts have been upgraded. The helicopter has been hardened against electronic warfare. Everything from avionics, to flight controls, to fuel systems have been upgraded. The helicopter’s skin has been strengthen to withstand flight fatigue and allow for more growth. But if you look at the silhouette, you’ll still recognize the helicopter. But everything else has been upgraded and made even more capable — so capable that it will serve our war fighter’s most demanding needs for another 40 years and beyond.
The original Chinook had a payload of about 11,000 pounds. Today, even though the helicopter is substantially heavier given all the upgrades and extra capabilities that have been added and built in, it is still capable of lifting more than double its original payload at more than 22,000 pounds.
And all of these upgrades will allow future Chinooks to have a more powerful engine added to the aircraft without a need to redesign or change anything else. So the Chinook is well positioned to be even more powerful and more capable and no other redesigns would be required. This is the very definition of versatility and capability!
But the Chinook isn’t just the world’s most powerful helicopter, it can fly almost 200 miles an hour and is the fastest helicopter currently in our arsenal. Many of our allies use the Chinook, and Germany recently made a major commitment to the Chinook — precisely because it is so capable, utilitarian, and cost effective.
Our military understands that this substantially upgraded Chinook will be the world’s most capable heavy lift helicopter for another 40 years into the future. Special operators fly the most dangerous and demanding missions in the Army and they swear by the Chinook and trust their lives in it. And this new upgraded Chinook is a massive leap forward for our special operators.
Over the past decades, we’ve developed new weapons systems and important tools needed by our warfighters that are heavier than the old, original Chinook’s lift capacity. These new weapons and equipment often must be lifted into, and out of, battle space. The new, upgraded Chinook is uniquely capable to do exactly that.
And all of these improvements and cutting edge capabilities have been achieved at a fraction of what it would have cost to start over and develop from scratch a replacement heavy lift helicopter. And they make the Chinook, effectively a new and highly capable platform while keeping all the advantages of it being a battle-tested and battle-proven platform.
The Pentagon needs to fully fund updating the military’s Chinook fleet. Our war fighters need the capability here and now, and in the future. Congress has historically been very supportive of the Pentagon’s Chinook upgrade plans. And let’s hope that Congress continues to see the merits of being prepared and strong and saving the taxpayer money at the same time! It is the definition of a win-win when you can provide our war fighters with cutting edge technology and improved capability, while at the same time using the taxpayer’s funds wisely and efficiently.
In a world where the Pentagon often needs to do more with less, the new, upgraded Chinook makes a lot of sense. This will give our warfighters the greater range and payload capacity that will be needed in the future. And while achieving all of these milestones, it will keep both production costs and sustainment costs lower. And if the Pentagon or Congress were to take an “on again, off again” approach to replacing our Chinook fleet with the new, upgraded Chinooks, not only will our war fighters lack the tools they need, but costs will likely increase as we slow down and speed up production lines.
So it is time for both the Pentagon and Congress to make a strong commitment to the new, improved Chinook. It is the right decision for our national security in the future and it is the right decision for our beleaguered taxpayers and tight federal budgets.
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