The Boeing Company on Thursday announced that the U.S. Army awarded it a $23.7 million contract for modifications of many Chinook helicopters.
Standing by on a hilltop, soldiers with the 101st Division Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division watch as two Chinook helicopters fly in to take them back to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. (Photo by Spc. Mary L. Gonzalez, US Army)
Under the terms of the contract, Boeing will perform Initial Production Fielding Support modifications on 49 CH-47F Chinook helicopters at the Boeing Millville Modification Center in New Jersey.
“This important program for our U.S. Army customer is a result of the quality work our employees do every day and their responsiveness to schedule needs,” said Peri Widener, Boeing director of Rotorcraft Support.
The contract extended the current period of modification works for another year, from May 2011 through April 2012. In February 2010, Boeing opened the Millville facility at the local airport and was awarded the initial Army contract that included modifications for 35 aircraft.
The modification works were completed in early May. After the helicopters were delivered to the Army, Boeing structural and electrical employees made specialized avionics and airframe modifications to support new Army requirements.
“Our successful support to the war fighter is leading to follow-on work and maintaining our workforce in Millville,” said Raymond Haddad, Boeing director of Chinook Rotorcraft Support.
The newly-awarded contract also included training support for Army Chinook units on the upgrades. In addition, Boeing will deploy two New Equipment Training teams consisting of CH-47F mechanics and technicians to support Army units in the U.S. and overseas.
“We are using expertise from across the company to establish an innovative service that addresses customer requirements and affordability,” added Haddad.
The Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft.
