And now
https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles...Fv9jpyMFrINUMI
A £1.4 billion contract to modernise the Chinook fleet over the next 10 years has been agreed. The deal will see British forces benefit from 14 of the latest iconic heavy-lift helicopters.
Proven in battle and operated in every major conflict since the Falklands War, the Chinook is a highly-versatile aircraft. The helicopter can operate in a diverse range of environments, from the desert to the arctic, and transport up to 55 personnel or ten tonnes of cargo.
With a top speed of 300 kilometres per hour, the new H-47(ER) aircraft will have a range of new capabilities, including:
- an advanced digital cockpit
- a modernised airframe to increase stability and improve survivability
- a digital automatic flight control system to allow pilots to hover in areas of limited visibility
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “From assisting emergency repairs to UK flood defences, providing vital logistics support during COVID-19 to its warfighting role on Afghan battlefields, the Chinook has been the workhorse of the Armed Forces for over 40 years. The cutting edge H-47 (ER) will be at the forefront of our specialist requirements in dealing with threats and logistic support. Our £1.4 billion investment will mean we will be one of very few air forces with this capability.”
Full story:
https://bit.ly/2QaFcKg