The Republic of Singapore Air Force has started taking delivery of the CH-47F heavy lift helicopters, which will progressively replace the RSAF’s older Chinooks that have been in service since 1994.
The service announced the delivery on May 26, after photos of the first of an expected 16 new Chinooks emerged in July 2020. Singapore confirmed in 2016 it would buy an unspecified number of the CH-47F helicopters from Boeing.
“The initial delivery of the CH-47F to the RSAF Helicopter Detachment in Oakey, Australia, will enable the RSAF to leverage the vast airspace and terrain for more realistic training. The opportunity for the RSAF to train in Australia is a reflection of the close and longstanding defense relationship with Australia,” the service said in an announcement.
Compared to the CH-47D version currently in service with RSAF, the CH-47F introduces digital automatic flight control systems, common avionics architecture systems and advanced cargo handling. The CH-47F also features an enhanced self-protection suite and satellite communication (SATCOM) system, will enable it to better meet the SAF’s lift requirements.
RSAF said the CH-47F helicopters would complement its fleet of helicopters to provide it with a robust heli-lift capability for a range of operations including search and rescue (SAR), aeromedical evacuation (AME) and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
A second CH-47F for Singapore was spotted during flight tests in Delaware in November 2020.
