Middle Wallop, United Kingdom – The Chinook Mark 6 (Mk 6) helicopter of the British Armed Forces has successfully completed its first flight equipped with the new Infrared Suppression System (IRSS), a technology designed to reduce the aircraft’s heat signature and make it less vulnerable to heat-seeking missiles.
The flight test took place at Middle Wallop airfield, operated by the British Army, and marked a major advancement in the aircraft protection program. The installation of the new extended exhaust mounts represents the largest defensive modification made to a UK Chinook by Boeing in the past decade.
+ RAF Chinook impresses at Air Tattoo with heavy load maneuvers
“It’s great to see our multidisciplinary teams come together to support the IRSS capability and complete the first flight,” said Leanne Legge, director of Vertical Lift at Boeing Defence UK. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with our customer and UK suppliers to deliver enhanced protection to the UK Chinook fleet.”
+ Video: Hyundai Tucson Engine Suddenly “Explodes” and Leaves Owner with a $20,000 Bill
The IRSS is considered a key feature for increasing the safety and operational effectiveness of Chinooks in combat environments. By reducing the aircraft’s heat emissions, the system makes detection by infrared missile sensors more difficult, directly contributing to crew safety and mission success.
The flight test campaign will continue in the coming months, with the goal of validating and refining the new system before large-scale integration into the UK fleet.
Source and images: Boeing Defence UK. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
