# Chinook Product Improvement Program — Program Element 0607137A

**Program element:** 0607137A  
**Component:** U.S. Army  
**Appropriation:** 2040 — RDT&E, Army  
**Budget Activity:** 7 — Operational System Development  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0607137A

## Summary

U.S. Army funding falls 72% to a $7.3M request in FY2027 (down from a FY2026 peak), sustained across the five-year plan. In the FY2027 defense authorization, the House funded it in full; the Senate funded it in full; House appropriators added 82% (to $13.3M). Boeing leads the industry work.

## Funding profile

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 4.6 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 25.9 |
| FY2027 | Request | 7.3 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 7.4 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 7.4 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 7.4 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 7.5 |

> Estimate types are not summed — the profile mixes actuals, enacted law, the request, and outyear projections.

## Congressional marks (FY2027)

| Stage | Marked ($M) | Change ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| Request | 7.3 | — |
| House NDAA (HASC) | 7.3 | +0.0 |
| Senate NDAA (SASC) | 7.3 | +0.0 |
| House Approps (HAC-D) | 13.3 | +6.0 |

> FY2027 NDAA authorization marks, as of 2026-07-27. Not appropriations or final law.

## Projects (1)

| Project | Title | FY2025 actual | FY2026 enacted | FY2027 request | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES4 | Chinook Product Improvement Program | 4.6 | 25.9 | 7.3 | −72% |

> Projects are the summable leaves: the program element total is their sum, never added to it.

### Project ES4 — Chinook Product Improvement Program

This project is critical to achieving heavy lift capability in support of Transformation in Contact (TiC) and Continuous Transformation objectives. The CH-47F Block II helicopter, with an increased payload and operational reach, is the only platform that can lift the Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV), M777 and medium girder bridge to enable the TiC Forces to Compete, Penetrate, Disintegrate, and Exploit at operationally relevant distances. The CH-47 Block II Middle Tier Acquisition Rapid Fielding (MTA RF) effort inserts critical and affordable technologies into the Chinook fleet to maintain platform operational capabilities, while continuing to meet the Warfighter requirements. The CH-47F Block II provides additional capability to the field with increased payload, extended reach, improved sustainability, and an increased maximum gross weight to 54,000 pounds. Key improvements to the aircraft's safety and reliability include refinement to the rotor system, drivetrain, fuel, and electrical systems and a strengthened airframe providing commonality with the MH-47G. The Chinook Block II program updates the Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) and Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS) software packages of the aircraft and incorporates other avionics changes introduced into the final CH-47F production aircraft. The program includes provisions for anticipated future upgrades, weight savings and cost savings that provide significantly increased capability to the field. These initiatives ensure the Army has a platform with the flexibility and performance needed to meet the needs of TiC operations. The total cost of the CH-47F Block II MTA RF effort is $1,228.5 billion (APA $1,184.1 billion, RDTE $44.4 million), including RDT&E from FY2025 through FY2030, per the Acquisition Decision Memorandum dated 12 Sep 2025. The CH-47F Block II MTA RF is fully funded across the Future Years Defense Program. This PE utilized FY2025 $4.640 million and FY2026 $10.859 million for the CH-47F Block II MTA RF requirement. The Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase produced three production representative test articles to support a Production Decision.

**Named R-3 performers** (share of this project's FY2027 R-3 total, so they need not reach 100%)**:** Boeing (7.3, 100%).

| Activity (R-2A) | FY2025 | FY2026 | FY2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Testing and Evaluation | 3.9 | 8.8 | 7.3 |
| System Support | 0.8 | 2.0 | — |

> R-2A activities carry the prior, current and budget year only — no five-year plan. Coverage is partial, so count them, never total them.

## Where the FY2027 request goes

| Category | Share | $M |
|---|---|---|
| Industry primes | 100% | 7.3 |

**Top named industry performers:** Boeing ($7.3M, 100%).

> R-3 exhibit contract funding, not USAspending obligations.

## Mission & acquisition strategy

This project is critical to achieving heavy lift capability in support of Transformation in Contact (TiC) and Continuous Transformation objectives. The CH-47F Block II helicopter, with an increased payload and operational reach, is the only platform that can lift the Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV), M777 and medium girder bridge to enable the TiC Forces to Compete, Penetrate, Disintegrate, and Exploit at operationally relevant distances. The CH-47 Block II Middle Tier Acquisition Rapid Fielding (MTA RF) effort inserts critical and affordable technologies into the Chinook fleet to maintain platform operational capabilities, while continuing to meet the Warfighter requirements.

On 12 September 2025, the CH-47F Block II program entered the Rapid Fielding (RF) pathway. This pathway facilitates the rapid fielding of CH-47F Block II aircraft to units supporting missions in contested Area of Responsibilities (AORs) such as Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). Under this pathway, the Army will accelerate fielding of up to 24 aircraft to two Combat Aviation Brigades starting in FY28. The next production decision for CH-47F Block II will be in 2027.

## Related program elements

- [0604283F — ARSR-4 Replacement - Hawaii](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604283F) (Air Force)
- [0604820A — Radar Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604820A) (Army)
- [0605241A — Future Long Range Assault Aircraft Development](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0605241A) (Army)
- [0604014N — F/A-18 Infrared Search and Track (IRST)](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0604014N) (Navy)

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Army RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibits R-2/R-3, PE 0607137A (PB PB2027); FY2027 NDAA committee marks (as of 2026-07-27).
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_program_element(pe="0607137A")`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*