Canada receives final Chinook helicopter ordered

RIDLEY TOWNSHIP, Pa., July 1 (UPI) -- The 15th and last Chinook helicopter ordered from Boeing by the Royal Canadian Air Force has been delivered at a company facility in Pennsylvania.

The CH-47, designated the CH-147F by Canada, features a modernized airframe, a long-range fuel system, an upgraded electrical system, a fully integrated common avionics architecture system cockpit and digital automatic flight control system.

Other features include a directional infrared counter-measures system.

The helicopters were procured as part of a Canadian medium-to-heavy-lift project.

"The Medium-to-Heavy-Lift Helicopter project is making an exemplary contribution to the Canada First Defense Strategy," said Col. Andrew Fleming, program manager for Canada's Medium Heavy Lift Helicopter Project Management Office. "The combined efforts of the government of Canada, Boeing and all partners involved in delivering this new capability, on time and an on budget, serve as a model for future Canadian Defense acquisitions.

Boeing said that under its arrangement with Canada, it is providing in-service support for CH-147F fleet over the next 20 years. The support will include services from Canadian industry.