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
US Air Force CSAR Program Status
- Boeing's offer of the HH-47 was submitted in November 2005
- A flight performance and cabin suitability evaluation was completed using two MH-47Gs leased from USSOCOM
- An air transportability demonstration was completed in December 2005, proving the ability to prepare the HH-47 for strategic airlift and re-build it to a flight-worthy configuration in less than three hours at each end
- Boeing was selected in November 2006 to build 141 HH-47 aircraft at the Boeing Integrated Defense Systems' rotorcraft manufacturing facility in Ridley Park, Pa., home of the MH-47G Special Operations Chinook and the US Army CH-47 F Programs
- Competitors Sikorsky, offering the S-92, and Lockheed Martin / AgustaWestland, offering the US-101, have protested the Air Force decision to buy the Boeing HH-47, resulting in a work stoppage order on the previously awarded contract
- In response to the protests, the Air Force issued a new request for proposals in November 2007 to the three competitors
- Boeing submitted its revised proposal in response to Amendment 5 to the CSAR-X RFP in January 2008 and responded to Amendment 6 to the CSAR-X RFP in May 2008
- Contract award is expected Fall 2008
- Boeing remains confident that the best company and the best helicopter won the initial competition, and additional evaluations will yield the same results
For more information, read the HH-47 CSAR-X Helicopter Overview(PDF).
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