Says HH-47 Offers Superior Cabin Size, Most Lift

Boeing submitted its revised HH-47 Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) helicopter proposal to the US Air Force Monday, in response to Amendment Five of the service's original request for proposals.

"Our focus has remained on providing the Air Force a low-risk, date-certain, best value offering that meets or exceeds all customer performance requirements," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "With its superior range, payload and speed, we are confident the HH-47 will provide the customer with an aircraft that can best perform the mission of reliably bringing downed flight crews safely home."

Originally awarded to Boeing in November 2006, the $10 billion CSAR-X contract has undergone two rounds of competitor protests sustained by the Government Accountability Office. As ANN reported in November, Amendment Five reopened the competition and allowed the competitors to adjust all aspects of their proposals to provide the Air Force 141 new helicopters.

The HH-47 is a derivative of the Chinook helicopter. The company maintains the HH-47 offers the benefits of the CH-47F and MH-47G upgrades in order to fulfill the Air Force's CSAR mission needs at low-risk, and as soon as possible. Sikorsky is fielding a search-and-rescue version of its S-92 -- dubbed HH-92 -- while Lockheed Martin is offering a variant of the three-engine US101 helicopter.

Boeing says the HH-47 offers the largest cabin size, highest operating altitude, lowest downwash velocity and most lift capacity of all competitors, providing CSAR crews with enhanced flexibility for demanding missions.

The HH-47 shares high commonality with the combat-proven MH-47G and CH-47F. The HH-47 will have a state-of-the-art common avionics architecture system cockpit, digital aircraft flight control system and an integrated electronic warfare and weapons suite. With an unrefueled range of more than 775 nautical miles, the HH-47 also is the only entry with US-certified aerial refueling and terrain-following/terrain-avoidance radar, further extending the HH-47's operational reach.

Boeing will be the prime contractor for the HH-47. The program office is responsible for the total design, weapons system integration, production, training crews and maintainers, and support of the CSAR platform. Primary suppliers and teammates include Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, ITT, Northrop Grumman, CAE and BAE.

Boeing will produce the HH-47 at its facilities in Ridley Park, PA on the same active Chinook production line that has delivered approximately 1,200 helicopters.

FMI: www.boeing.com/ids, www.af.mil