The U.S. Army plans to utilize the CH-47 Chinook helicopter until the 2060s, which will make the helicopter 100 years old by the time it’s considered for retirement. However, it wouldn’t be accurate to say that the CH-47 Chinook from the 1960s is the same aircraft the U.S. Army utilizes today.
Indeed, while it might appear on the outside to look almost identical, continuous improvement and robust maintenance over the years to the helicopter’s components makes the Chinook, and especially the latest CH-47F Block 2 models, a viable modern military aircraft. This, in part, has led to the aircraft’s outstanding and rather unique longevity. In total, various models of the Chinook have been manufactured, including the CH-47A, B, C, D, E, and F. There is also the special MH-47G Chinook, designed specially for the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.
Recently, Boeing announced that the Egyptian military requested it deliver the CH-47F Block 2 — the Chinook’s latest model — to help modernize its fleet. Those helicopters are expected in 2026. Today, CH-47s are currently deployed for various militaries worldwide. The strong design foundations and continuous improvement of the CH-47 have enabled it to find profound longevity. And it will continue to be used around the world for the foreseeable future.