Boeing Unveils First RAF H-47 Extended Range Chinook

Boeing has unveiled the first H-47 Extended Range Chinook built for the Royal Air Force, marking the UK’s entry into the advanced Block II configuration under a 14-aircraft modernization program.

The Boeing Chinook has served as the Royal Air Force’s heavy-lift workhorse for more than four decades, supporting operations from the Falklands War to Afghanistan, humanitarian relief missions and special operations worldwide. The new H-47 Extended Range (ER) introduces the latest Block II improvements, extending the platform’s operational life well into the 2040s enhancing its ability to support long-range and expeditionary missions alongside NATO allies that also operate the Chinook.

PHILADELPHIA — Boeing has unveiled the first Royal Air Force H-47 Extended Range (ER) Chinook currently in production at its Ridley Park, Pennsylvania facility, marking a major milestone in the UK’s heavy-lift modernization program.

The aircraft is the first of 14 H-47ER helicopters ordered by the United Kingdom and represents the first Block II Chinook to be delivered to an international operator, introducing the latest generation of Boeing’s tandem-rotor heavy-lift helicopter outside the United States.

The aircraft is currently undergoing systems integration and flight-test preparation ahead of deliveries to the RAF, which will eventually operate the new fleet from RAF Odiham.

Andy Builta, Vice President and H-47 Program Manager at Boeing said, "These Chinooks represent the future of heavy-lift capability, reinforcing our long-standing defense partnership with the United Kingdom. By pairing the robust architecture of the Block II with extended-range systems, the RAF will maintain an unmatched vertical-lift edge across NATO’s most demanding theaters."

Modernizing the RAF’s heavy-lift fleet

The H-47ER acquisition forms part of the Royal Air Force’s long-term effort to replace its oldest Chinook helicopters while maintaining one of the world’s most experienced heavy-lift fleets.

The procurement was initially announced in 2021 as a £1.4 billion modernization program before being restructured through a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement between the UK Ministry of Defence, the U.S. Army and Boeing. The final contract was signed in 2024 and also supports the British industrial base through participation in the defense supply chain.

Deliveries are expected to begin in the coming years, with the aircraft remaining in service beyond 2040.

Block II capabilities

The H-47ER combines Boeing’s latest Block II structural improvements with equipment specifically selected by the RAF for long-range missions.

Extended-range fuel sponsons providing increased internal fuel capacity.
Integrated aerial refuelling probe for long-endurance operations.
Strengthened Block II airframe offering improved payload capability, durability and survivability.
Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS) and modern avionics to improve safety and handling, particularly in degraded visual environments.

The enhancements are intended to support strategic air mobility, special operations, humanitarian assistance and heavy logistics missions in austere environments.

More than four decades of RAF service

The Royal Air Force first ordered the Chinook in 1978, with deliveries beginning in 1980. Since then, the aircraft has become a cornerstone of British military aviation.

The helicopter earned worldwide recognition during the 1982 Falklands War, when the surviving Chinook Bravo November continued flying after the loss of the Atlantic Conveyor, transporting troops, artillery and supplies across the islands.

RAF Chinooks have since participated in operations in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, while also supporting disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and domestic emergency response missions.

A global heavy-lift platform

The Chinook remains one of the world’s most successful heavy-lift helicopters, serving with more than 20 countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Greece, Turkey and Egypt.

The U.S. Army continues introducing the Block II standard while several allied operators are evaluating similar modernization programs to extend the aircraft’s operational life for decades to come.