What can the Chinooks do?
The CH-47 Chinook choppers are multi-mission heavy-lift transport helicopters. They will be used to transport troops, artillery, supplies, equipment on the battlefield, ammunition and even barrier materials.
Along with military operations, the Chinook choppers can also be used for disaster relief, search and recovery operations, medical evacuation, fire-fighting and civil development.
Moreover, the choppers will help lift the M-777 ultra-light howitzers of the Indian armed forces.
What are the features of Chinook choppers?
The Chinook choppers can carry a maximum payload of 11 tonnes and 45 troops. Additionally, it can carry underslung load of up to 10 tonnes.
It also has a fully-integrated digital cockpit management system, along with Common Aviation Architecture and advanced cargo-handling capabilities.
Where else is the Chinook used across the world?
The Boeing CH-47 Chinook is an American twin-engined helicopter developed by US company Vertol and developed by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems. The Chinook is used by the armed forces of more than 19 countries including the UK, Canada, Japan, South Korea, UAE, Italy, Australia, Spain, the Netherlands and Greece along with the US Army, US Army Reserve and the National Guard.
What was the Chinook deal?
India had signed two deals - one for the Chinook heavy-lift chopper and one for the Apache attack chopper - in 2015-16. The Ministry of Defence had finalised the deal with Boeing for production as well as training and support of the fifteen Chinook helicopters in September 2015. The first batch of IAF pilots began their training to fly the Chinook in the US in October last year. The Apaches will be supplied by the beginning of September this year at the Pathankot airbase.
