15-02-2007: Contract signed for delivery of six new Chinooks:
The agreement, which marks the first international sale of the CH-47F, provides for non-recurring development, production and post-delivery aircraft support.
The Netherlands-unique version of the U.S. Army CH-47F will include a next-generation Honeywell Avionics Control and Management System (ACMS) cockpit avionics suite, an integrated forward-looking infrared capability and several other newly developed multi-mission features.
regi86 wrote:I believe they are going to up-date the older models to this standard as well...
AFAIK all Dutch Chinooks were upgraded to the -D standard. Two Chinooks were lost in Afhanistan.
So they will have 11 D's and 6 F's.
Could not find anything about upgrading the D's.
Indeed there are rumors flying around about plans for upgrading the Ds to F, for example the english wikipedia page about the Royal Dutch Airforce makes this claim.
Yes, upgrading the D's is mentioned on various sites since 2005.
But nothing is decided yet nor there is a budget for.
Full explanation in the light of the recent Dutch elections in this article:
f one combines the dots it probably explains why the contract only handles 6 CH-47F and not the remainder.
A resigning government will usually only handle contracts previously set in motion, but this one has to cope with the Second Chamber which needs to give the green light.
Although it has not been stated explicitely, I think it would be correct to say that the Chinook contract was lightened a bit so that in all likelyhood it could pass the Second Chamber, upgrades can wait.
As I said, a new government is about to be formed we shall have to wait and see if the upgrade will then be initiated by the Balkenende IV government."
ElcoB wrote:Yes, upgrading the D's is mentioned on various sites since 2005.
But nothing is decided yet nor there is a budget for.
Full explanation in the light of the recent Dutch elections in this article:
f one combines the dots it probably explains why the contract only handles 6 CH-47F and not the remainder.
A resigning government will usually only handle contracts previously set in motion, but this one has to cope with the Second Chamber which needs to give the green light.
Although it has not been stated explicitely, I think it would be correct to say that the Chinook contract was lightened a bit so that in all likelyhood it could pass the Second Chamber, upgrades can wait.
As I said, a new government is about to be formed we shall have to wait and see if the upgrade will then be initiated by the Balkenende IV government."
As much as the article tries to explain Dutch politics, it incorrectly mentions that Balkenende III fell; it never did. It was, however, a minority cabinet from the start.
I got this information from an edition of "Onze Luchtmacht", don't know which one excatly...
The update will come anyway because probably they don't wanna keep pilots trained for different versions, which will cost more in the end.
And not only pilots but mechanics aswell.
CONTRACT AANSCHAF CHINOOKS(Dutch).