US approves $8.5 billion helicopters sale to Germany

Europe, News, US May 17, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential $8.5 billion sale of CH-47F Chinook helicopters and related equipment to its NATO ally Germany. After having approval from the State Department and Congress, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency would sell 60 Chinooks to Germany.

According to the Pentagon, the Government of Germany requested to buy 60 CH-47F Block II Cargo Helicopters with customer-unique modifications. The order also 20 spare engines for the CH-47F helicopters, 72 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS), and 284 Communications Security Radios for the helicopters.

According to Pentagon, the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally which is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe. Pentagon statement added that Germany intends to use the helicopters to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. German forces already operate a fleet of Chinook helicopters making it easier for it to integrate the new model into its armed forces.

Despite approval by the State Department, the sale process is yet to go through a few more stages before the contract is finalized and signed. There still remains room for price negotiations before the contract is concluded.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany has sharply increased its defense spending. Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz shifted the country’s policy to focus on military modernization and committed 100 billion Euros to the Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces.

*^{U.S. Army’s Chinook CH-47F heavy-lift cargo helicopter. (Image Credit: U.S. Army Acquisition Support)}*

Last week, German lawmakers approved the Defense Ministry’s request to grant $1.6 billion in funds for the procurement of 50 new Puma fighting vehicles. German forces are also on a tightrope due to their upcoming obligatory deployment with the NATO forces. The current administration is pulling all the strings to bring the number of troops and equipment up to the mark in order to fulfill its NATO obligations.

Germany’s Defense Ministry had requested the additional budget to purchase new fighting vehicles in order to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities and to fulfill NATO’s obligations by 2027.

Chinook helicopters

Produced by Boeing, one of the world’s leading aerospace and defense manufacturers. The CH-47F is an advanced multi-mission helicopter that was initially developed for the U.S. Army. It was later adopted by many international defense forces. The U.S. Army as well as 19 different allied forces are collectively operating more than 950 Chinook helicopters.

The heavy-lift helicopter contains a fully integrated, digital cockpit management system, Common Avionics Architecture System cockpit, and advanced cargo-handling capabilities complementing the aircraft’s mission performance and handling characteristics.