28 June, 2018: Boeing and the US Army celebrated a major CH-47F Block II programme milestone with the loading of the first engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) helicopter into final assembly. The contract to develop the next-generation Chinook for the US Army conventional and Special Operations Forces was awarded to Boeing in July 2017.
The Block II programme includes several upgrades to increase lift capability, including Advanced Chinook Rotor Blades, an upgraded fuselage, new fuel system, and new drivetrain. These updates greatly increase the commonality between US Army and allied fleets, thus reducing maintenance costs.