Boeing has released the first images of the new Chinook H-47ER helicopters that will join the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF).
The aircraft confirm that the United Kingdom will receive a version very similar to the MH-47G used by United States special operations forces, including the distinctive black paint scheme of the American 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR).
In total, the RAF has ordered 14 H-47ER helicopters, becoming the first international operator of the Block II variant of the Chinook. The extended-range model features enlarged fuel tanks, greater payload capacity, and increased endurance, allowing it to carry out missions over longer distances without frequent refueling.
The new aircraft will replace some of the oldest Chinook helicopters in the British fleet, several of which have been in service since the early 1980s. Although they are officially intended to renew the RAF’s heavy-lift capability, their configuration and equipment indicate that the helicopters are expected to be used primarily for special operations missions.
Delivery of the H-47ER helicopters is scheduled to take place between 2028 and 2032 as part of the modernization program for the United Kingdom’s rotary-wing fleet. The goal is to expand the RAF’s operational range and transport capacity, while also allowing older helicopters to be retired as they are gradually withdrawn from service by the end of the decade.
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Photos: Boeing Defense / X @BoeingUK. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
