The $472 Million Contract That Just Extended A 1960s Helicopter’s Life Into The 2040s

The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is the US Army’s only tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopter and is the US’ second-largest after the Sikorsky CH-53. Vertol initially developed it, but it is now built by Boeing. Over 1,200 examples have been built, of which around 500 are in US Army inventory, with many others exported or retired. The Chinook first flew in 1961 and entered service in 1962, making it one of the older widely used designs in the US military.