{"id":52572,"date":"2020-09-01T17:57:44","date_gmt":"2020-09-01T17:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/09\/01\/us-special-operations-command-gets-first-brand-new-chinook-variant\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:52:10","slug":"us-special-operations-command-gets-first-brand-new-chinook-variant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2020\/09\/01\/us-special-operations-command-gets-first-brand-new-chinook-variant\/","title":{"rendered":"US Special Operations Command gets first brand-new Chinook variant"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Special Operations Command has taken receipt of its first MH-47G Block II Chinook<\/a> from Boeing on time, according to a Sept. 1 company statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While other helicopter pilots are envious of the technology on a special operations Chinook, its bones are old. Many of the 61 MH-47G helicopter airframes are from the 1960s, \u201970s and \u201980s, and the MH-47 is a heavier aircraft than the Chinooks in the active Army component due to the mission equipment added to the airframe over the years. A special operations Chinook weighs roughly 54,000 pounds while a conventional Chinook weighs 50,000 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis delivery marks a major step for the Chinook program,\u201d Andy Builta, Boeing\u2019s H-47 program manager, said in the statement. \u201cThe new Chinook will give U.S. Special Operations Forces significantly more capability for extremely challenging missions and will enable them to conduct those missions on the future battlefield.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upgrades in the Block II version include newly designed rotorblades, major changes to the drive system and other improvements like non-segmented fuel cells. The aircraft is expected to buy back roughly 4,000 pounds of additional load capacity and adds range capability.<\/p>\n\n\n\t