Boeing delivers first five CH-47F Chinooks to Egyptian air force

The Egyptian air force has received its first five Boeing CH-47F Chinooks. The delivery was marked during the El Alamein air show, which ran from 8 to 10 September. The helicopters are part of an order for 12 F-model aircraft announced in January 2023 and valued at roughly $426 million. They will replace Egypt's older CH-47D fleet. Cirium data shows 19 D-model Chinooks currently in service, aged between 26 and 45 years.

Boeing says the new F-model has better payload, range and heavy-lift capability for troop movement, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. An earlier Foreign Military Sales request indicated Egypt could purchase up to 23 CH-47Fs, but it is not known whether more than the current dozen will be ordered.

Boeing is also under contract to modernise part of Egypt's Apache attack helicopter fleet. Cirium shows 41 operational AH-64D Apaches. Kathleen Jolivette, Boeing's vice-president and general manager for vertical lift, said 25 of them will receive advanced digital avionics and improved connectivity and interoperability. Two new-build AH-64E Apaches are also part of a broader programme announced by the US military in November last year. That brings Egypt's future Apache total to 27 E-model aircraft.