The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has started taking delivery of the CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopter in Singapore, following its initial delivery to the RSAF helicopter detachment in Oakey, Australia.
The service officially took delivery of the CH-47F in May 2021, as the first of an expected 16 new Chinooks, which will progressively replace the RSAF’s older Chinooks that have been in service since 1994.
Singapore first received the helicopter from Boeing in Australia in order to take advantage of the vast airspace and terrain for more realistic training.
With better lift and reach capabilities, the CH-47F helicopters will complement the RSAF’s fleet of helicopters to provide the SAF with a robust lift capability for a wide range of operations including search and rescue, aeromedical evacuation, troop lift, fire-fighting and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
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.
