The Defense Security Cooperation Agency April 21 notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Canada of CH-47D Chinook helicopters as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $375 million.
Canada wants to buy six CH-47D Chinook helicopters with 12–two per helicopter–T55-GA-714A turbine engines, four M240H machine guns, 30 AN/AVS-6/7(V)1 aviation night vision imaging systems, and two spare T-55-GA-714A turbine engines, mission equipment, communication and navigation equipment, ground support equipment, spare and repair parts, special tools and test equipment, publications and technical data, site survey, quality assurance team support, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The prime contractors would be: Boeing [BA]; Honeywell Inc. [HON] and FN Enterprise. There are no known offset agreements proposed.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the military capabilities of Canada and furthering weapon system standardization and interoperability with U.S. forces. Canadian deployments in support of peacekeeping and humanitarian operations have made a significant impact to global political and economic stability and have served U.S. national security interests.
Canada needs these helicopters to enhance its capabilities in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Having the same configuration as the U.S. would greatly contribute to Canada’s military capability by making it a more sustainable coalition force.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of contractor representatives to Canada and in the theater of operations for an unspecified amount of time. Also, approximately six U.S. government personnel would participate in program management and technical reviews in-country for one to two-week intervals twice annually to support site surveys and delivery of the CH-47D helicopters in-country.