LONDON, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- U.K. defense authorities announced the successful delivery of two new Boeing-made Chinook helicopters with modified engines.
U.S. company Boeing is under contract with the British Defense Ministry to deliver eight new Mk3 Chinooks in 2010 modified with a powerful engine technology variant. British Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced the first two of the Chinooks have been delivered to the Royal Air Force installation in Odiham, the British Defense Ministry reported.
The Chinook helicopters, a tandem rotor aircraft designed to carry several dozen troops at a time or mission critical cargo, are being delivered to the Royal Air Force to support ongoing operations in Afghanistan.
"The arrival of these aircraft is further evidence of the measures we have taken to strengthen our Support Helicopter Force and follows my announcement three weeks ago that we plan to buy up to 22 more Chinooks," Ainsworth said in a statement.
