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Japan's Self-Defense Forces have placed an order for 17 CH-47JA Block II Chinook helicopters. The helicopters will be co-produced by Boeing and Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI). This makes Japan the fourth customer for the CH-47 Block II Chinooks.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces currently operate over 100 Chinooks, including 83 CH-47J/JA models that are between two and 38 years old. Heather McBryan, vice president and program manager of Boeing Cargo Programs, stated: "This award strengthens our decades-long relationship with KHI and provides critical capability improvements that will keep the Japan Self-Defense Forces operating heavy-lift aircraft for decades to come."
Kawasaki began manufacturing the CH-47J in 1984 and has been producing the improved CH-47JA since 1993. The enhancements include a larger fuel tank and additional features like a weather radar in the nose. The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force operates 15 of these helicopters, while the remainder is used by the Ground Self-Defense Force.
