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The Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) ordered 17 CH-47 Block II Chinook helicopters from Boeing on February 13, 2025. The helicopters will be co-produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) in Japan.

Boeing has been collaborating with Japan’s KHI for over 40 years. Since the 1980s, the two companies have jointly delivered more than 100 Chinooks to the JSDF, making it one of Japan’s most successful and enduring defense industry partnerships.

“This award strengthens our decades-long relationship with KHI and provides critical capability improvements that will keep the Japan Self-Defense Forces operating heavy-lift aircraft for decades to come,” said Heather McBryan, Vice President and Program Manager of Boeing Cargo Programs.

McBryan also highlighted the technological advancements in the CH-47 Block II Chinook, noting that the Block II configuration and digital flight controls will bring substantial upgrades to Japan’s helicopter transport capabilities.

“The Block II configuration and digital flight controls will modernize and significantly improve Japan’s helicopter transport capabilities by improving aircraft stability, safety, and efficiency,” she stated.

Humanitarian operations

The CH-47 Chinook has been a crucial asset for Japan, not only for military operations but also for humanitarian and crisis operations. JSDF frequently deploys its Chinooks for disaster relief missions, including responses to earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural disasters.

The increased range and lift capabilities of the Block II variant will further strengthen Japan’s ability to respond to emergencies both domestically and internationally.

The newly acquired helicopters will replace a portion of its JSDF’s CH-47 JA fleet, which was originally procured in the 1980s and delivered by the early 2000s. These helicopters have played a crucial role in various missions, including the response to the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.

During that operation, special lead plates were installed on the aircraft floors to shield crew members from radiation, while the helicopters were used to collect and drop ocean water over high-temperature areas to help contain the crisis.

The JSDF has also requested to enhance the current orders’ heavy lifting capabilities signaling its use for military cargo and equipment displacement. With this acquisition, Japan joined the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany as the fourth global customer for the advanced Block II configuration. This move aligns with Japan’s goal of maintaining a modern and effective military force capable of responding to diverse operational requirements, including disaster relief, troop transport, and logistical missions.

Specifications and features

The CH-47 Chinook is a twin-engine, tandem-rotor transport helicopter designed for heavy-lift missions. Manufactured by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, the Chinook has been in service since 1962 and remains a vital asset for military forces worldwide. Originally developed from the Vertol Model 107, it took its first flight on September 21, 1961, and has since been continuously produced and upgraded.

So far, Boeing has produced well over 1200 units of this helicopter in different variants which are used by the militaries all over the world. Some of its latest variants include the Boeing Chinook CH-47 Block II Extended Range and the experimental Boeing Vertol BV-347.

The CH-47’s versatility and reliability make it an essential aircraft for transporting troops, supplies, and equipment, as well as executing critical missions such as disaster relief, medical evacuations, and special operations.

In 2019, the U.S. Army decided not to procure the CH-47F Block II for its active fleet, opting instead to focus funding on the development of the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) and the Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), both of which were planned for deployment in the early 2030s. As a result, the Army committed to producing 69 units of the latest MH-47G Chinook variant for special operations and intended to end production there.

However, after years of uncertainty, the Block II program saw a revival when Congress pressured the Army to restore funding for the active-duty fleet. The program’s resurgence was further solidified when the Army canceled the FARA program in 2024, freeing up $465.2 million in fiscal 2025 funding to support Block II production for the regular Army.

The CH-47 Block II features significant improvements, including a new fuel system, an upgraded electrical system, and a reinforced airframe to enhance lift capacity. Initially, the variant also included redesigned rotor blades, but this upgrade was abandoned in 2022 due to excessive rotor blade vibrations, which were deemed a flight risk by the Pentagon’s chief weapons tester.

With growing regional security concerns and an evolving geopolitical landscape, Japan’s investment in modernized military assets reflects its commitment to maintaining a strong, versatile, and technologically advanced defense force.