UAE purchase of six CH-47F Block IIs approved by US State Department
Peter Felstead
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of CH-47F Chinook helicopters and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 12 May 2025.
The proposed FMS, which is worth an estimated USD 1.32 billion (EUR 1.17 billion|), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
One the same day the DSCA also stated the US State Department had approved an additional FMS package worth USD 130 million for sustainment of the UAE Air Force and Air Defence’s fleet of 76 F-16E/F Block 60 fighters.
The UAE Joint Aviation Command, which is the controlling command for all UAE Army and Navy fixed- and rotary-wing assets, currently operates 22 CH-47F Block I and up to eight CH-47C+ helicopters.
The UAE has requested to buy six CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters with an air-to-air refuelling capability and extended range fuel tanks; 16 T-55-GA-714A engines, (12 installed and four spares); 14 Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS)/Inertial Navigation System (INS) (EGI) devices with M-Code (12 installed, two spares); eight AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (six installed, two spares); 20 AN/ARC-231A communications security (COMSEC) radios (18 installed, two spares); and 20 M240 machine guns (18 installed, two spares).
Also part of the package are various non-Major Defense Equipment items, including Common Missile Warning System classified software; AN/APR-39A radar warning receivers; AN/AVR-2B Laser Detecting Sets; AN/ARC-220 high frequency (HF) radios; AN/ARN-147 VHF Omni Directional Radio Range/Instrument Landing System (VOR/ILS) receivers; Wescam MX-15HDi electro-optical/infrared imaging systems; AN/ARN-153 Tactical Airborne Navigation System (TACAN) radios; AN/APN-209 radar altimeters; AN/APX-123A identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders; Fast Rope Insertion/Extraction Systems (FRIES); Internal Extended Range Fuel Systems; firefighting equipment; ballistic armour protection systems; spare and repair parts; and various aspect of engineering, technical, logistics, training and programme support.
“The proposed sale will improve the United Arab Emirates’ capability to meet current and future threats by extending its range of flight operations. The UAE will use these assets in search and rescue, disaster relief, humanitarian support, and counterterrorism operations,” the DSCA stated.
The principal contractors will be Boeing Helicopter Aircraft Company out of its facilities in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, and Honeywell Engine Company out of its facilities in Phoenix, Arizona.
