Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX, has won a contract valued at up to $472m from the US Army to deliver engineering services for the CH-47 Chinook helicopter fleet.
The agreement aims to advance the modernisation and sustainment of the Army’s heavy-lift rotorcraft by upgrading its avionics systems.
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According to an announcement from RTX, the new contract will provide avionics improvements designed to integrate additional capabilities, address parts obsolescence and strengthen the architecture supporting the Chinook’s cockpit and mission-critical systems.
Work related to these upgrades will take place at company facilities in Huntsville, Alabama and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Army intends to use these engineering services to introduce an open, modular avionics platform across its Chinook fleet. This approach aims to streamline technology adoption, cut integration complexity, and reduce both costs and scheduling challenges within its aviation modernisation efforts.
The initiative is expected to enhance interoperability across the service’s rotary-wing aircraft.
Collins Aerospace Vision and Sensing Systems vice president and general manager Jenny Miller said: “Collins equips the Chinook with advanced avionics that integrates communication, navigation and mission subsystems into a flexible, interoperable cockpit built for today’s operational demands.
“Our longstanding avionics partnership with the US Army ensures the fleet continuously evolves to support the warfighter and meet future operational demands.”
The CH-47 Chinook remains the US Army’s principal heavy-lift helicopter, widely used for missions ranging from troop movement and cargo transport to search and rescue and disaster relief.
The aircraft is also utilised by approximately 20 international operators.
Recent modernisation of the Chinook has focused on the CH-47F Block II variant, which features a strengthened airframe and drivetrain, redesigned fuel tanks and an updated open avionics architecture.
Boeing said these changes are intended to increase lift capability, extend operational range and ease future technology upgrades.
Earlier this year, Boeing received a separate order for six additional CH-47F Block II helicopters, as part of the Army’s ongoing procurement and fielding plans.
This follows the US Army’s previous order of nine additional CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters from Boeing, placed under two contract awards, Lot 4 and Lot 5, which together are valued at $461m.
The first CH-47F Block II aircraft are set to enter operational service no later than mid-2028, according to the company.
