Chinook Helicopters CH-47

Chinook Helicopters

• Chinook Helicopters is a key heavy-lift helicopter which has been used to transport troops and equipment.
• Chinook Helicopters name is derived from the Native American Chinook people of Oregon and Washington state.

Chinook Helicopters: Features

Manufacturer: The twin-engine aircraft is manufactured by Boeing Co. and its engines are developed by Honeywell International Inc.

Speed: Chinook is considered the world’s fastest military helicopter with a maximum speed of 315 kilometres per hour.

Range: The operating range of Chinook helicopterss has by increased to 609km (329nm) with mission radius of 4km (200nm).

Operational deployment: Chinooks have been in operation since the Vietnam War. It was used to transport soldiers and weapons in Afghanistan and Syria. Other missions include medical evacuation, search and rescue, parachute drops, disaster relief and aircraft recovery.

Passenger capacity: The helicopter had maximum capacity to carry 36 passengers, but during the last days of the Vietnam War it was able to carry 147 refugees in a single lift.

Technical advancement: The Chinook has fully integrated, digital cockpit management system and advanced cargo-handling capabilities.

Chinook Helicopters: Reasons for Grounding

• US Army has suspected that some engine fires broke out on an unspecified number of Chinook Helicopters.
• The decision to ground the helicopters was taken as a precautionary measure.
• Engine issue: The issue is said to be from the engine manufactured by Honeywell International. Some components of the engine, known as O-rings, were not as per the design specifications.

Chinook Helicopters: Implications on India

• Indian Air Force: The IAF operates a fleet of 15 Chinook Helicopters and it has not grounded them as it awaits more word on the US development.
• The IAF is said to have sought more information from the US about the grounding of the Chinook Helicopters done by the US Army.
• The Chinook Helicopters were inducted into the IAF in 2019. Currently, one Helicopter Unit of Chinooks is based in Chandigarh while the other is based at Mohanbari airbase in Assam.

Chinook Helicopters: Importance for India

• Heavy artillery: They are capable of slinging the M777 lightweight howitzers from one location to the other, especially in mountainous terrain along the borders with China.
• They are deployed in places like Ladakh and Siachen glaciers to assist Indian forces operating in these regions.
• Humanitarian missions: Indian Airforce can deploy Chinook Helicopters for humanitarian missions and disaster relief as it can operate in extreme environment and carry heavy equipment.
• Infrastructure development: Chinook Helicopters can carry heavy construction materials required for infrastructure creation along international borders.

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