On June 1, the Minister of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany, Christine Lambrecht, announced the selection of Boeing’s bid in the competition for a new heavy transport helicopter for the German armed forces.
The above decision is the aftermath of the approval of an increase in Germany’s defense budget. Boeing together with local partners (AERO-Bildung, Airbus Helicopters, CAE, ESG, Honeywell, Lufthansa Technik and Rolls-Royce Deutschland) offered the heavy helicopter CH-47F Chinook Block II on the German market. Lockheed Martin CH-53K King Stallion was in the field overcome. The purchase is to cover 60 copies, which will be ordered through the federal FMS procedure – according to the German press, the helicopters alone (without the additional services package) may cost around USD 4 billion. Machines for the Federal Republic of Germany are to have a fuel system that allows refilling fuel in the air using flexible refueling lines.
As indicated by the German media, one of the key factors behind the choice of Boeing’s offer was the lower unit price, which makes it possible to order a larger number of helicopters, as well as the possibility of cooperation with other NATO allies. The CH-47 Chinook is the standard type of heavy transport rotorcraft, except for the United States it is operated by Canada, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece and Turkey.
As part of the STH program, Germany was looking for a supplier of new heavy transport helicopters to replace the currently operated CH-53G Stallion. The above fact is an argument for the Lockheed Martin corporation, which promoted the CH-53K King Stallion on the German market – incl. four years ago, it was in Berlin that the European presentation took place.