Army’s heavy-lift capability is set to be strengthened by the arrival of new Boeing-built Chinook helicopters.

RAAF Base Townsville is awaiting the arrival of two additional Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters purchased as part of a foreign military sale from the United States in May 2021.  

Defence ordered a total of four additional Chinooks for approximately $595 million, with the first two arriving in July 2021.

This latest delivery takes the total size of the Australian Army Aviation Command’s CH-47F Chinook medium-lift helicopter fleet to 12.

The aircraft will be operated by C Squadron, 5th Aviation Regiment.

Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy welcomed the delivery, noting the capability benefits for the Australian Army.

“The Australian government is demonstrating its commitment to bolstering Defence’s ability to prepare our ADF to be future ready,” Minister Conroy said.

“The Chinook is Defence’s largest helicopter, which has been instrumental in recent missions including Operation Bushfire Assist in 2019-20, Operation Tonga Assist in 2022 and Operation Queensland/New South Wales Flood Assist in 2022.

“The helicopters will provide Defence with additional lift capacity and strengthen Army’s ability to support operations globally.”