In The News:
Overview
The Boeing HH-47 helicopter was selected by the U.S. Air Force in November 2006 for their Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission. The Boeing HH-47 tandem rotor aircraft is an advanced design, equipped with weapons, countermeasures, survivability enhancements, and advanced avionics, similar to those utilized on the U.S. Army Special Operations MH-47G Chinook which is currently in production. The HH-47 is a highly rugged and stable platform with proven reliable performance in a wide range of demanding environments, altitudes and conditions.
HH-47 - Most Capable, Low Risk
- An affordable, low risk, highly capable platform with a proven operational and logistics track record, the HH-47 meets or exceeds key Air Force performance parameters and incorporates advanced functionality to perform demanding combat search and rescue missions
- Multi-mission capable platform with significant combat experience, at high altitudes, in austere environments and with limited visibility
- The HH-47 is an advanced derivative of the Chinook that meets all Air Force Block 0 requirements and will require minimal upgrades to meet Block 10 requirements
- Benefiting from an existing production line, the HH-47 will provide maximum capability to the warfighter sooner
- Key features include a net-ready cockpit, forward-looking infrared radar, terrain-following-terrain avoidance radar, and in-flight refueling capability
- Improved power, avionics, vibration reduction and transportability enhancements will also distinguish the HH-47 CSAR-X model
- Improved digital maps, greater situational awareness, mission planning and management capability enable flight crews to conduct missions with pinpoint accuracy
- The HH-47 is a next generation of Chinook that benefits from the experience of 800 other Chinooks operated worldwide by the US Army and 18 other customer countries including The Netherlands Air Force, United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, Egyptian Air Force, Korea, Singapore, Japan, Australia, Spain, and Italy
- Boeing teammates on the HH-47 program include Raytheon, Honeywell, Rockwell, , BAe, CAE, MRC, Fenn, Kaman, ITT, Harvard, Smiths, Middle River, L3, Ehmke, Keystone, Fluid Mechanisms, Northstar, Northrop Grumman, Goodrich, and Loud
Boeing statement on CSAR termination, June 2009:
"Since Boeing won the original CSAR competition back in 2006 with our HH-47 Chinook-based platform, we are disappointed that the competition has now been officially canceled by the Air Force. Most still recognize that a joint Combat Search and Rescue capability is critically important, and we'll be ready to compete for any future CSAR rotorcraft requirement with the most capable, best value solution possible."
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