Boeing CH-47

The Taliban claims to have repaired about half of the U.S.-provided aircraft that were damaged during the final days of the American withdrawal from Kabul.

A U.S. Air Force F-22 shot down an unidentified flying object off the coast of Alaska on Feb. 10.

The upgrade is Honeywell’s answer to a move by GE Aviation to offer the more powerful T408 turboshaft engine as a future upgrade option.

The U.S. Army conducted its first flight of a NCH-47 Chinook equipped with the GE Aviation T408 engine, which is the same turboshaft engine outfitting the CH-53K King Stallion.

Rolls-Royce is part of Boeing’s industry team to support the rotorcraft as it faces off against Sikorsky’s CH-53K King Stallion to secure the lucrative Schwerer Transporthubschrauber (STH) contract.

The service’s fiscal 2021 budget request once again attempts to defer Block II upgrades for conventional forces Chinooks, but includes money to upgrade special operations forces MH-47Gs.

The biggest change is in procurement of the Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk, which is reduced as planned to 36 aircraft from 74 in 2020.

Boeing says it expects Berlin to issue a contract award for a fleet of 44-60 helicopters plus sustainment and training in 2021.