Story ID: 
Italy Signs for Boeing CH-47F Chinooks
By: Chris Pocock
Caption: The Italian Army confirmed that it is buying 16 Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters in a co-production deal with AgustaWestland that is worth appr
Word Count: 163
The Italian Army confirmed that it is buying 16 Boeing CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters in a co-production deal with AgustaWestland that is worth approximately $1.23 billion. This is the first international sale of the CH-47F, a major upgrade to the evergreen Chinook that is already in service with the U.S. Army. New-build and remanufactured versions of the CH-47F, which are rolling off a common production line at Boeing’s factory in Philadelphia, feature a digital flight control system, integrated HUD, redesigned ramp and other structure, as well as an improved missile warning and countermeasure system. Italy previously acquired 40 CH-47C models in a license-build agreement, and is one of 14 international operators of the Chinook. This time, Boeing will build the fuselages and AgustaWestland will do final assembly and systems integration. Deliveries will take place from 2013 to 2017. The deal includes a license for AgustaWestland to market the CH-47F to the UK, other European countries and several countries in the Mediterranean region.