Honeywell has received a contract to supply engines for South Korea’s future CH-47F Chinook helicopters.
The agreement supports the government’s effort to replace its aging CH-47s in the D variant.
Seoul procured the fleet from the US in December 2022, which ordered the delivery of 18 rotorcraft for an estimated $1.5 billion.
‘Testament’ of Confidence
Under the propulsion contract, the North Carolina firm will provide South Korea with 41 T55-GA-714A engines.
The latest T55-GA-714A configuration generates approximately 5,000 shaft horsepower, the company wrote.
This enhancement allows a Chinook platform to achieve 170 knots (314 kilometers/196 miles per hour), even in austere scenarios.
“We have a longstanding relationship with South Korea, and we appreciate the opportunity to continue supporting them on their new CH-47F Block I Helicopters with our latest T55-GA-714A engine configuration,” Honeywell Aerospace Engines and Power Systems President Dave Marinick stated.
“The latest contract to supply 41 T55 engines is a testament to South Korea’s confidence in our battle-proven engines. To date, our T55 engines have logged some 12 million hours of operation on the Boeing CH-47 and MH-47 Chinook helicopters.”
Honeywell’s T55 Engines
Honeywell’s T55 line of solutions is commonly used to run heavy-lift aircraft.
Currently, the technology powers over 1,000 international CH-47 helicopters operated by military and civil organizations.
The firm first debuted its T55 engine at 2,200 shaft horsepower for the US Army’s CH-47A helicopters in the 1960s.
Since its introduction, the engine has undergone numerous improvements to match the evolving battlespace.
Honeywell facilitates additional developments on its T55 products to further refine the technology’s reliability, maintainability, efficiency, and operational costs.
