CAS BG – 10.003 - December 13, 2010
As part of the Government’s commitment to strengthen the Canadian Forces, the Department of National Defence is acquiring 15 Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopters, Canadian F model Chinook (also known as CH-147F).
Supporting Operations
The Canada First Defence Strategy represents a commitment by the Government of Canada to provide the Canadian Forces (CF) with the right equipment, therefore enabling CF personnel to perform their mission of defending Canada and Canadian interests, today and well into the future. New Chinook helicopters are an important part of that commitment.
By summer 2012, personnel from the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces will begin test flights with Boeing on the first CH-147F helicopters. The first Chinook aircraft will be delivered by 2013 and Initial Operational Capability (IOC) will follow a year later in 2014.
The Chinooks will be delivered at a rate of approximately one aircraft per month, with all aircraft being delivered over a 12 month period.
Domestic Operations
Domestic roles for the Chinook helicopters will focus on the provision of logistical or mobility support to CF Land Forces and CANSOFCOM, other Government departments, law enforcement agencies, or other civil authorities. The Chinook helicopter will provide a vital capability to conduct secondary Search and Rescue when required and support major air disaster response across the continent, particularly in Canada’s North given increasing commercial air activity in that region. The Chinook will also be capable of responding to humanitarian emergencies such as fire, floods and earthquakes. The versatility, impressive capacity and long range of this helicopter make the Chinook ideal for operations in Canada’s vast territory and demanding environment.
Foreign Operations
Wherever the CF may be asked to deploy abroad , they are likely to deploy to a more chaotic and complex environment involving improvised explosive devices, mines, small arms fire, and other dangerous weapons.
Helicopter forces are vital to supporting adaptable military operations in these environments and must be prepared to assist ground-borne forces and ensure their own continued operations under increased threats.
The new Chinook helicopters will have a much enhanced self-protection capability over earlier Canadian Chinooks, including advanced anti-missile protection systems, radar and laser warning systems, ballistic protection, self-defence machine guns and advanced electro-optical and infra-red sensors to detect potential threats and assist aircrew in operating in reduced visibility conditions. The Chinook will provide the ground forces with the ability to reduce the reliance on ground routes where threats are high. As evidenced in Afghanistan, the capability of the Chinook to maximize the effectiveness of Canadian troops while reducing the threat to them is invaluable.
Chinook helicopters are in high demand across the entire spectrum of contemporary military operations, from humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping to high-tempo combat operations. These forces must train continuously and be prepared to deploy on short notice. Aircraft and aircrew must be available and prepared in advance to support the high levels of readiness and responsiveness required of the CF. These Chinook helicopters are needed now to prepare for and sustain operations in the future.
Equipped for Modern Battlefield
These new Chinooks will be dramatically improved compared to the old models operated by the CF in the 1970s and 1980s, with a full range of leading-edge systems which will allow them to operate effectively in a modern theatre of operations that has also changed dramatically since the Cold War era.
- With the extended range fuel tanks, they will have more than twice the range of the old Chinooks.
- To defeat anti-aircraft missiles, the new Chinooks will be equipped with a laser-based active missile counter-measure system, as well as a chaff and flare dispensing system.
- A radar and laser warning system will alert the crew if they are being targeted, and a full armour kit will provide crew and passengers with ballistic protection from small arms fire.
- The Chinook will be equipped with three defensive machine guns: two forward door guns and one on the aft ramp.
- A state-of-the-art Electro-Optic/Infra-Red sensor will allow the helicopter to operate effectively in very low light or reduced visibility conditions.
In addition to robust self-defence equipment, additional tactical procedures are followed to further mitigate threats that may be encountered. For example, the Chinooks can be flown with armed escort aircraft, and can use deception techniques in a wide range of day or night operations, all of which make the Chinook an ideal helicopter in a broad spectrum of demanding theatres.
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