German Air Force Familiarizes with Chinook via Dutch Allies

Bundeswehr, April 23, 2024 - The German Air Force is gaining initial experience with the Chinook transport helicopter alongside its Dutch allies, engaging in flight operations, refueling, and training.

Even before the delivery of the new CH-47 heavy transport helicopter, the Air Force is deepening its cooperation with the Netherlands. For the first time, a Chinook transport helicopter from the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force) landed at the Holzdorf airfield. The Netherlands is one of nine NATO nations currently operating this helicopter. The Air Force expects to receive its first Chinook helicopter in the fall of 2027.

"The Holzdorf location will become the hub of helicopter transport with the future stationing of the CH-47," said Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, the Air Force inspector. "We can already feel the turning point in Holzdorf. The CH-47 will significantly contribute to strengthening national and alliance defense."

In addition to the Chinook, Arrow, the new weapon system for ground-based defense against ballistic missiles above the Earth's atmosphere, will also be stationed at the air base. Both acquisitions are among the Air Force's flagship projects, financed from the special fund for Bundeswehr equipment.

Starting in 2027, the CH-47 will gradually replace the aging CH-53G, which has served as a 'workhorse' for air transport of men, vehicles, and material. The CH-47 can transport twice as much load—up to 40 cubic meters—over longer distances compared to its predecessor. The Bundeswehr has ordered a total of 60 helicopters, with 47 initially stationed in Schönewalde/Holzdorf and another twelve in Laupheim. One machine will be allocated to Defense Technical Office 61 in Manching, following the common practice for testing new weapon systems domestically.

The Chinook introduces new capabilities for the Bundeswehr as a whole. "It is our first helicopter that can be refueled both in the air and on the ground," says Colonel Christian Guntsch, appointed by the Air Force inspector as the person responsible for the new weapons system. "Additionally, we can now conduct armed search and rescue operations during repatriation missions, such as emergency landings of aircraft crews."

The CH-47 is well-suited for disaster relief operations, such as fighting forest fires or aiding in flood relief. "With it, we will be able to cover the entire spectrum of air transport capabilities in the future," adds Guntsch, "from humanitarian aid to crisis and wartime scenarios."

Moreover, the Chinook presents excellent opportunities for international cooperation. With over 500 aircraft already in use in Europe and the USA, and 20 countries having utilized the model thus far, including nine NATO nations, Guntsch remarks, "We will be the 21st member of this family." The Air Force is acquiring a proven helicopter that has been deployed worldwide, from Afghanistan to Mali.

An added advantage for Germany is that it will receive the latest version of the machine, known as the 'Block II Standard Range.' This modernized version was recently chosen by the American armed forces.

Training in the USA and the Netherlands

In terms of training, cooperation with allies is already underway. Since the end of March, two German pilots have been undergoing training at a United States Army school to become flight instructors. Four more pilots will head to the United States next year, with the training program lasting three years. "By 2027, when the first Chinooks arrive in Germany, we will have experienced flight instructors we can rely on," Guntsch explains the plan. Additionally, the first load master for the CH-47 has been undergoing training in the USA since the beginning of April.

The Air Force is also collaborating with the Netherlands in personnel training. A permanent exchange in basic training will commence this year. For the Koninklijke Luchtmacht, the joint flight operations over Holzdorf have provided the first opportunity to practice ground refueling of their CH-47s with a German A400M

Infrastructure expansion has started

With the stationing of the Chinook and Arrow, Holzdorf will emerge as the largest Bundeswehr location in eastern Germany. The governments of the two federal states where the Schönewalde/Holzdorf site is situated are particularly delighted about this development. "This holds significant importance for the region," says Brandenburg’s Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke. "It entails investments exceeding 600 million euros, the creation of around 1,000 new military and civilian positions, leading to an increase to approximately 3,000 employees in the foreseeable future."

To facilitate this growth, the state of Brandenburg, in collaboration with the neighboring state of Saxony-Anhalt, has established a task force aimed at expediting necessary construction endeavors.

In terms of infrastructure, significant upgrades are necessary at the site. "The helicopter measures 30 meters in length, equivalent to an Airbus A318, and spans 18 meters in width," elucidates Colonel Guntsch. "Hence, new storage facilities and a repair hall must be constructed." The air base can already accommodate six helicopters, and the visit from the Dutch demonstrated that the Chinook can also fit within the existing hangars.