Chinook Gets Stronger with New Engines and Block II Upgrades

The CH-47 Chinook has been the U.S. Army’s go-to heavy-lift helicopter for six decades, but the best days lie ahead for this celebrated warrior. With a support from Boeing and Honeywell, the Army is adding capabilities that will keep the Chinook mission-ready for another 40 years or more.

Boeing’s Chinook Block II upgrades and Honeywell’s latest T55-714C turboshaft engines will make the CH-47 more capable than ever and ready to meet the Army and Special Operations Command requirement for a heavy-lift helicopter than can handle heavier loads, higher altitudes and hotter temperatures.

“The combination of the Block II upgrades and new T55-714C engines will give the Army exactly what it’s looking for,” said NAME, BOEING TITLE. “The next-generation Chinook offers cutting-edge technologies to lift more throughout the envelope – especially in high, hot operating conditions. It will have the power and reliability to take soldiers where they need to go, when they need to go and return them safely when their mission is complete.” 

Making something great even better

For Chinook Block II, Boeing strengthened the CH-47’s fuselage, improved the drive train, redesigned fuel tanks and made other improvements that will enable higher levels of performance and commonality across the fleet.

The T55-714C engine is the latest version of the T55 turboshaft engine that has powered every Chinook flight since the first one in 1961, according to T.J. Pope, Honeywell’s Senior Director of Military Turboshaft Engines.

“The new engine will provide the Chinook Block II helicopter with the power it needs to lift ever-increasing payloads, including troops, equipment and supplies,” Pope said. “It also provides significant improvements in range and fuel efficiency so crews can complete their missions and return safely to base.”

Upgrading a true legend

Engine performance improvements will deliver 6,000 shaft horsepower, which is a four-fold increase over the original T55 engine and a 22% improvement over the current T55-714A. That means the Chinook Block II helicopter with the new Honeywell engine will carry 22,000-plus pounds of payload, compared to about 20,000 for current versions of the CH-47.

In addition, the T55-714C will burn 8% less fuel and offer a 25% improvement in overall reliability, including 40% longer compressor life, thanks to a redesigned compressor module.

Boeing is currently delivering Chinook Block II aircraft equipped with the T55-714A engine, which will be seamlessly upgraded to the “C” version of the engine when it becomes available in 2025, according to Pope.

“Honeywell is incredibly proud to be working with Boeing to provide the Army and Special Operations Command with an advanced engine that will extend the mission capabilities of this incredible helicopter,” Pope said. “Chinook Block II upgrades and the T55-714C engine complement one another and provide the perfect solution to meet the needs of military aviators, now and far into the future.”