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United States Boeing
CH-47F Chinook
Tandem-rotor heavy-lift transport helicopter that has served the U.S. Army since the 1960s, upgraded through multiple generations to carry troops, artillery and cargo in the most demanding environments.
In service since 2001 · 20 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
315
km/h
741
km range
5,640
m ceiling
💲 ≈ $38,500,000, Approximate flyaway unit cost
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 20 operators
In service since 2001. Status: active · ~1,200 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
$96M – $135M
Acquisition is only ~30% of lifecycle cost, operating & support dominate over ~30 yrs. Rough 2.5–3.5× the unit price. How we estimate this →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 315 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 260 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 741 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 5,640 m |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 30.1 m |
|---|---|
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 5.68 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 11,055 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 22,680 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
| Cargo payload Maximum cargo the transport can carry. Higher means more lift per sortie. | 12,700 kg |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 33 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Honeywell T55-GA-714A turboshaft |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 4,868 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Turboshaft |
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $38,500,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 1,200 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 20 |
Specifications compiled from public Boeing and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Head-to-head comparisons
CH-47F Chinook vs
Mi-26 
T129 ATAK Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Boeing CH-47F Chinook? +
The Boeing CH-47F Chinook has a maximum speed of 315 km/h.
What is the range of the Boeing CH-47F Chinook? +
The Boeing CH-47F Chinook has a maximum range of 741 km.
How much does the Boeing CH-47F Chinook weigh? +
The Boeing CH-47F Chinook has a combat weight of 22,680 kg.
How many crew does the Boeing CH-47F Chinook require? +
The Boeing CH-47F Chinook requires a crew of 3.
What engine does the Boeing CH-47F Chinook use? +
The Boeing CH-47F Chinook is powered by the Honeywell T55-GA-714A turboshaft.
How many countries operate the Boeing CH-47F Chinook? +
The Boeing CH-47F Chinook is operated by 20 countries.
How much does the Boeing CH-47F Chinook cost? +
The Boeing CH-47F Chinook has an approximate unit cost of 38,500,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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UH-60M Black Hawk
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V-22 Osprey
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