Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, has received a $19 million contract from the Department of Defense to equip a fleet of new H-47 Chinooks for the UK Royal Air Force with its Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) avionics management suite. This cockpit upgrade will make UK Chinooks interoperable with the U.S. Chinooks, using the same avionics system, advance digital cockpit displays and applications.
Cockpit upgrade will increase collaboration, operational effectiveness and safety for UK and U.S. operators
“Interoperability with our allies will be crucial in the future fight, particularly when it comes to maintaining air dominance,” said Dave Schreck, vice president and general manager of Military Avionics and Helicopters at Collins Aerospace. “Having the same battle-proven, modernized flight deck technology on both UK and U.S. aircraft will enable our forces to collaborate more seamlessly, lower their workload and increase operational effectiveness and safety in challenging environments.”
CAAS’s Flight2™ Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture design integrates multiple communications, navigation and mission sensor subsystems through its flexible hardware and software. Its open systems architecture enables cost-effective system upgrades and enhancements, reducing total sustainment costs over a platform’s life cycle.
As part of this contract Collins Aerospace will also be responsible for completing data analysis and testing whilst working with the UK Ministry of Defence to help it meet the UK Military Airworthiness Authority’s requirements.
Earlier this year, the UK government announced that the UK’s heavy lift capability would be enhanced with the purchase of 14 extended-range Chinooks, contributing an estimated £151 million into the UK economy.
Work on this contract will be conducted in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Huntsville, Alabama.
The Boeing CH-147F Chinook is a multi-mission, medium/heavy-lift helicopter used to transport equipment and personnel during domestic or deployed operations. The RCAF’s Chinooks are operated by 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (Petawawa, Ontario) under 1 Wing. The Chinook supports the Canadian Army and Special Operations Forces, plus other government departments, law enforcement agencies and civil authorities when requested. There are currently 14 aircraft in the RCAF’s CH-147F Chinook fleet. Read more in our Helicopter Report.
The Chinook fleet has received a number of improvements recently. They include an Emergency Locator Transmitter upgrade, a secure radio modernization (UHF/VHF/HF), and an Extended Range Fueling System (ERFS). According to DND, an extensive avionics upgrade under the Multi-Fleet Air Traffic Management Avionics (MFATMA) project is now in the engineering phase. It will add Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out), Performance-Based Navigation, and new transponders to the CH-147Fs.
Sometime in the future, DND intends to execute a Chinook Mid-Life Block Upgrade (CMBU). This will likely be in tandem with the upcoming next Tactical Aviation Capability Set (nTACS) program.
