Argentina wants Chinooks ... again

On 10 June 2022, the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of Argentina decreed that a request to obtain four Boeing CH-47F Chinook through Foreign Military Sales (FMS) should be made to the USA.

Of course this is the first step in a long process. Both the deal itself and the financial conditions are subject to US approval. Also, the required budget needs to be found, freed and allocated in Argentina, no matter how favourable the FMS conditions are.

If the process proceeds smoothly, we return 42 years in time when the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA, Argentine Air Force) operated three and the Comando de Aviación del Ejército Argentino (EA, Argentine Army Aviation Command) used two of these machines (model CH-47C) in the early 1980s. Like then, the pending fleet of four would be divided between the Air Force and Army.

The CH-47C principally featured more powerful engines and transmissions than its predecessor, the CH-47B. Three sub-versions were built; the first had Lycoming T55-L-7C engines delivering 2,850 shp (2,130 kW). The "Super C" included Lycoming T55-L-11 engines delivering 3,750 shp (2,800 kW), an upgraded maximum gross weight of 46,000 lb (21,000 kg), and a pitch stability augmentation system. The T55-L-11 engines suffered difficulties, as they had been hurriedly introduced to increase payload; thus, they were temporarily replaced by the more reliable Lycoming T55-L-7C. The type was distinguishable from the standard "C" by the uprated maximum gross weight. A total of 233 CH-47Cs were built.

The CH-47F, an upgraded CH-47D, made its maiden flight in 2001. The first production model rolled out on 15 June 2006 at Boeing's facility in Ridley Park (PA) and first flew on 23 October 2006. Upgrades include 4,868-shaft-horsepower (3,630 kW) Honeywell engines and the airframe featuring greater single-piece construction to lower maintenance requirements.

Photos by Erwin van Dijkman and Wim Sonneveld