A Chinook Mk3 performing a tandem load pickup.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced the signing of a £62 million contract with Boeing to convert eight Chinook Mk3 helicopters to join its existing fleet of 40 RAF Chinook helicopters.

The modified Chinooks, the first of which are expected to be operational in 2009, will be used to boost operations in Afghanistan.

Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence, commented on the move: “Helicopters play a vital role in supporting our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. That is why we are taking measures to make more helicopters available to operations as quickly as possible.”

MoD said the overall cost of modifying the helicopters is expected to amount to £90.1m – of which £62m is the contract with Boeing.

Design work will take place at Boeing in Philadelphia, US, whilst modifications will be performed by QinetiQ, based in Wiltshire and Hampshire, UK.

A Chinook helicopter can carry up to 55 troops or 10 tonnes of freight and can be used for search and rescue or casualty evacuation. It can safely land and lift off again from water and can carry up to five Land Rovers (two internal and three as under slung loads).

The aircraft features a twin rotor design and is one the few helicopters that can carry a ‘payload’ equivalent to its own weight.

They are highly capable and versatile helicopters that cope well with many diverse environments, including the harsh conditions in Afghanistan, MoD said.

By Natasha Piscitelli