The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence signed a contract worth almost $649 million with Boeing [BA] for in-service support of the Chinook helicopter, the government said on Feb. 17.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced the contract on a visit to Portsmouth.
The contract is to last for five years with the fleet of Chinooks maintained in Fleetlands, Gosport. Other technical support is to be provided from RAF Odiham and other sites.
The United Kingdom Royal Air Force is planned to include 60 Chinooks by early 2017, including new Mark 6 models, the ministry said.
The Prime Minister also announced that BAE Systems and Magma Structures were chosen as preferred bidders to occupy the Portsmouth ship hall facilities.