US To Acquire 177 CH-47 Chinook Helicopters And 99 V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft

The United States Army has awarded a contract for 177 Boeing CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters in a deal worth roughly $4 billion. Also included is an option for an additional 38 CH-47 Chinook helicopters.

Another contract soon to be awarded is for 99 V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft for about $6.5 billion by the United States Navy. The V-22 Osprey is build by Boeing and Bell Helicopter.

The multi-purpose V-22 Osprey is the first tilt-rotor aircraft to have entered service. The V-22 Osprey specifications are:

• Length of 17.5 m
• Rotor diameter of 11.6 m
• Wingspan of 14 m
• Empty weight of 33140 lbs
• Maximum takeoff weight of 60500 lbs
• Maximum speed of 275 knots 
• Combat radius of 722 km
• Ceiling of 25000 feet

The Osprey is powered by 2 Rolls-Royce/Allison T406/AE 1107C-Liberty turboshafts with 6150 hp each.

The combination of a helicopter and fixed-wing turboprop aircraft delivers higher speed, increased range and higher payload, while maintaining vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capability.

The CH-47 Chinook is a twin-engined, heavy-lift transport helicopter that entered service in 1962. It's design is distinguished by two tandem rotors. The CH-47 specifications are:

• Length of 30.1 m
• Rotor diameter of 18.3 m
• Height of 5.7 m
• Empty weight of 23400 lbs
• Maximum takeoff weight of 50000 lbs
• Maximum speed of 315 km/h
• Combat radius of 370 km
• Ceiling of 18500 ft

The CH-47 Chinook is powered by 2 Honeywell Lycoming T55-GA-714A turboshafts with 4733 hp each.


http://finance.yahoo.com/news/boeing-scores-over-10-billion-123559578.html

By James Haseltine (USAF) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

By Spc. Russell J. Good [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons