Australia is positioned to become an international centre of Chinook expertise following a new partnership agreement between Boeing Defence Australia and the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG).
In line with the government’s Australian Industry Capability program, Boeing will consolidate all existing support services for the Army’s CH-47F Chinook fleet into a new through life support contract to be conducted in-country.
“This new partnership has been structured to maintain the Australian Army’s alignment with the global Chinook fleet while standing up in-country engineering and supply chain capabilities to complement the training and maintenance services we currently deliver in Australia," Murray Brabrook, general manager Boeing Defence Australia Integrated Services and Support, said.
“The majority of work will be undertaken in Oakey and Townsville, building on our existing regional network of Australian rotary wing capability to deliver more cost-effective Chinook support while maximising Australian industry involvement and local agility to respond to Australia’s operational requirements.”
Boeing believes expertise developed under the Chinook support services contract could one day allow it to support other regional Chinook operators and future Army helicopter fleets based on other platforms.
The CH-47F Chinook is the largest helicopter in the Army with 10 aircraft currently in service. Boeing provides support services from the Chinook operating base in Townsville, the maintenance training centre in Oakey and delivers ab-initio helicopter aircrew training in Nowra.