Milestone in Chinook upgrade program

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MILLVILLE, N.J., June 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army has received the 100th CH-47F Chinook helicopter modified by Boeing, the company announced.

The milestone, from the company's new facility in Millville, N.J., was marked by a special ceremony last week.

"The Boeing Millville team is proud to have delivered 100 modified Chinooks to the Army on time, using efficient, cost-saving processes," said Peri Widener, Boeing vice president of Rotorcraft Support.

"The modification work on new F-model Chinooks gives soldiers in the field the most advanced equipment possible without taking aircraft out of service at the unit or in theater."

Boeing modifies the Chinooks to the Army's new avionics and structural requirements. Work is being done under an initial production and fielding support contract, which also features provisions for training support on the upgrades. Production of the helicopters, however, is conducted at the company's facility in Philadelphia.

The Millville facility came into being in 2010 when the company signed a contract with local authorities to lease hanger space at the Millville Municipal Airport.

"The Millville Modification Center is critical in providing modifications to the CH-47F prior to delivering the aircraft to Army units," said Lt. Col. Brad Killen, CH-47F product manager for the Army.