Sunday, August 09, 2009

DTN News: Egyptian Armed Forces To Acquire Six CH-47D Chinook Helicopters

DTN News: Egyptian Armed Forces To Acquire Six CH-47D Chinook Helicopters *Source: DTN News / Defense Security Cooperation Agency (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON - August 9, 2009: On August 6, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Egypt of six CH-47D CHINOOK Helicopters, 16 T55-GA-714A engines, eight AN/APR-39A(V)1 Radar Signal Detecting Sets with Mission Data Sets, eight AN/APX-117 Transponders with TS-4530 Interrogator/Transponder Test Sets, eight AN/ARC-220 (RT-1749) High Frequency Aircraft Communication Systems, flight and radar signal simulators, three M978A4 HEMTT Fuel Tanker trucks, two Fork Lift trucks and related equipment and support at an estimated cost of $308 million. The CH-47 is a twin-engine, tandem rotor helicopter designed for transportation of cargo, troops, and weapons during day, night, visual, and instrument conditions. The aircraft fuselage is approximately 50 feet long. With a 60-foot rotor span, on each rotor system, the effective length of a CH-47 (with blades turning) is approximately 100 feet from the most forward point of the forward rotor to the most rearward point on the aft rotor. Maximum airspeed is 170 knots with a normal cruise speed of 130 knots. However, speed for any mission will vary greatly depending on load configuration (internal or external), time of day, or weather conditions. The minimum crew for tactical operations is four, two pilots, one flight engineer, and one crew chief. For more complex missions, such as NVG operations and air assaults, commanders may consider using five crew members and add one additional crew chief. Development of the medium lift Boeing Vertol (models 114 and 414) CH-47 Series Chinook began in 1956. Since then the effectiveness of the Chinook has been continually upgraded by successive product improvements, the CH-47A, CH-47B, CH-47C, and CH-47D. The amount of load a cargo helicopter can carry depends on the model, the fuel on board, the distance to be flown, and atmospheric conditions. The Government of Egypt has requested a possible sale of six CH-47D CHINOOK Helicopters, 16 T55-GA-714A engines, eight AN/APR-39A(V)1 Radar Signal Detecting Sets with Mission Data Sets, eight AN/APX-117 Transponders with TS-4530 Interrogator/ Transponder Test Sets, eight AN/ARC-220 (RT-1749) High Frequency Aircraft Communication Systems, flight and radar signal simulators, three M978A4 HEMTT Fuel Tanker trucks, two Fork Lift trucks, repair and return, transportation, site survey, construction and facilities, spare and repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, U.S. Government and contractor technical support, and other related elements of program support.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country, which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. Egypt will use the CH-47D in support of its armed forces, disaster relief efforts, and joint exercises with U.S. forces in the region. Egypt will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. The prime contractors will be The Boeing Helicopter Company in Philadelphia, PA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of one U.S. contractor field service representative in Egypt to provide support for a period of one year with an option for two additional years. Four additional contractor representatives and one U.S. Government

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