May 11,
2008: Turkey wants to buy ten CH-47F
heavy transport helicopters. This is the latest model of the CH-47, and has
up-to-date digital communications, is easier to maintain, and cheaper to
operate than the CH-47D. The CH-47F can carry ten tons of cargo, or up to 55
troops, and has a maximum range of 426 kilometers. Its max speed is 315
kilometers an hour. Typical missions last no more than 2.5 hours. Currently,
the largest cargo helicopter Turkey has are some UH-60s, which can carry about
two tons.
The first
CH-47s entered service in 1962, able to carry only five tons. Some 750 saw
service in Vietnam, and 200 were lost in action. Between 1982-94, 500 CH-47s
were rebuilt to the CH-47D standard. SOCOM operates 31 MH-47Ds and Es, which
have additional navigation gear. These are being upgraded to MH-47F standards,
and the fleet expanded to 61 helicopters. As a result of all this, the CH-47
will end up serving at least 75 years. The CH-47F upgrades and new builds will
not be completed until 2018. New CH-47Fs cost about $35 million each, plus
another $10-15 million for spare parts, ground support gear and training.
