A Chinook helicopter flies over the city center during a military parade on the occasion of the Greek Independence Day in Athens, Greece, March 25, 2022. REUTERS / Louiza Vradi
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BERLIN, June 1 (Reuters) – (This June 1 story adjusts to read “CH-53” (not “CH-53K”) in paragraph 1)
Germany will buy 60 Boeing Chinook heavy-duty helicopters (BA.N) to replace its obsolete CH-53 fleet, putting to bed an often-delayed decision amid the war in Ukraine.
“With this model, we are strengthening our ability to cooperate in Europe,” said German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht, without specifying how much the helicopters would cost during a speech to the lower house of parliament in the Bundestag on Wednesday.
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According to past targets, the Bundeswehr had to buy 45 to 60 heavy-duty helicopters for about 4 billion euros ($ 4.29 billion) to be delivered between 2023 and 2029.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a major policy change after decades of military depletion, vowed in February to sharply increase defense spending and inject 100 billion euros into the Bundeswehr after Russia invaded Ukraine.
With 100 billion euros, Scholz is seeking to return the Bundeswehr’s weapons and equipment to standards after decades of exhaustion since the end of the Cold War. Read more
The lion’s share of the special funds, about 40 billion euros, will be spent on aircraft, according to a project seen by Reuters and defense sources. Read more
A crucial argument for Chinook was its global use, German Defense Chief Eberhard Zorn told reporters.
More than 500 Chinookes are used by the US Army and European forces, which means spare parts are easily accessible so helicopters can be operated for a long time.
The CH-53K is used only by the US Marines and Israel, Zorn said.
The decision marks a blow to rival Boeing Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), which also competed for the contract.
Boeing, with its trademark Chinook tandem rotor, and Lockheed’s Sikorsky, with its CH-53K, are the only Western companies to offer this type of military helicopter.
In recent years, the Bundeswehr has repeatedly postponed its decision to purchase new heavy-duty helicopters.
He relied heavily on the old CH-53, which he had been flying since the 1970s, for his mission in Afghanistan.
The operation revealed the shortcomings of the obsolete helicopter, with a lot of maintenance needed to keep it in the air.
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Report by Sabine Siebold Written by Miranda Murray and Thomas Escritt Edited by Madeleine Chambers, Barbara Lewis and Bernadette Baum
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