MH-47E Chinook (SOA)

US Army Special Operations long range transport helicopter

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History

The Boeing MH-47E Chinook is a derivative of the CH-47D Chinook heavy lift helicopter developed specifically for use with the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR.) The MH-47E's primary mission is that of long-range, all weather, all altitude, SOF insertion/extraction platform with integral command and control capabilities.

Development of the MH-47E was authorized in December of 1989 with the first prototype (built from an existing CH-47D airframe) assembled and flying in June of 1990. The initial production aircraft was flown in 1992, but design and flight system software issues delayed delivery to the Army until January of 1994. The Army had initially requested 51 MH-47E helicopters (to be constructed from existing CH-47D helicopters) but this request was cut to 29 aircraft. The last MH-47E was delivered in April of 1995.

As part of the upgrade/modification process, the MH-47E was equipped with more powerful Honeywell T55-L-714A turboshaft engines, an aerial refueling probe, redesigned landing gear as well as improved and enlarged fuel tanks, and provisions for auxiliary fuel tanks in the cargo area.

The MH-47E airframe was modified to incorporate the nose section off of Boeing's civilian Chinook variant, which allowed the MH-47E to accommodate a color weather radar system, as well as a forward looking infrared imaging system. The MH-47 also features a rescue hoist, (equipped with 200 feet of cable, rated to 600 pounds), as well as the Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction System (FRIES.)

The MH-47E flight deck was rebuilt to incorporate newer "glass cockpit" technology (digital instruments, multi-function displays) and is completely ANVIS-7 night vision compatible. The MH-47E also features additional communications equipment, advance self-defense electronics, and terrain avoidance and mapping radar. The MH-47E also features a mission commander/navigator station.

The MH-47E is currently in service with the 160th SOAR.

Description

Airframe and general capabilities
Like the CH-47D, the MH-47E is a twin-engined, twin-rotor helicopter. It is equipped with a two 3-bladed contra-rotating rotors and no tail rotor. The basic crew compliment for the MH-47E is three; pilot, co-pilot, and crewchief/flight engineer, though there is a fourth seat available for a mission commander/navigator (mission dictating.) The rotor blades are fabricated from composite materials and are resistant to AAA (anti-aircraft artillery) fire up to 23mm. The engines are mounted externally on the after section of the fuselage, at the base of the stern "tailfin" (rotor/ transmission housing.) There is a flight deck access door mounted forward on the right hand side, just behind the cockpit. This door is of a split design, with the upper half opening upward and inward, and the lower half opening downward. The lower door portion features molded in steps for access to the helicopter. The upper portion of the door can be jettisoned in flight. The rear of the aircraft is equipped with a large cargo door/ramp that can be left open or partially closed while in flight (to accommodate long cargo.) This door does not seal, and the aircraft cannot be pressurized.

The MH-47E utilizes the same quadricycle landing gear arrangement as the CH-47D, though the forward landing gear have been moved forward about 3 feet to accommodate the larger "saddle" fuel tanks. The landing gear are of a fixed, non-retracting type, with the forward two having two wheels per unit, and the aft two being single-wheel units. For operations in arctic environments, the MH-47E can be fitted with landing skis.

The MH-47E is equipped with an aerial refueling boom, located on the right hand side of the nose. To facilitate long-range aerial/shipboard transport, the rotor blades on the MH-47E can be folded.

Powerplant
The MH-47E is equipped with two T55-L-714A turboshaft engines, rated at a maximum 4,867 shaft horsepower (shp) each. The engines provide power to both rotors through a central gearbox. All MH-47E helicopters are equipped with the external air particle separation filters that increase engine life and reduce the chance of flameout in high dust environments. Internal fuel is stored in two crashworthy fuel tanks mounted on either side of the airframe in external fairings and totals 2,068 gallons. In addition, the MH-47E can be equipped with three additional auxiliary 800-gallon fuel tanks mounted in the cargo area in lieu of cargo. The MH-47E's maximum fuel capacity is 4,468 gallons.

Flight characteristics
The empty weight of the MH-47E is 26,918 pounds, with a total cargo capacity of 27,082 pounds. The maximum take off weight is 54,000 pounds.

The maximum level speed of the MH-47E is 154 knots (177 miles per hour.) The cruising speed is 140 knots (161 miles per hour.) The service ceiling is 11,100 feet (3,385m) and the maximum hover ceiling (out of ground effect) is 3,300 feet (1,005m.) Based on a typical mission load out (SOF team, 4,000 pounds of cargo) at cruise speed and altitude (4,000 feet) the MH-47E has an unrefueled radius of 505 nautical miles (581 statute miles) and a mission endurance of 5 hours.

Electronics
In addition to the standard communications equipment carried by the CH-47D, the MH-47E also features twin SATCOM communications links. The MH-47 is also equipped with an AN/APQ-174A multi-mode (terrain following, terrain mapping, air to ground ranging) radar, the AN/AAQ-16 Forward Looking Infra Red (FLIR) system, as well as an integrated GPS based scrolling map display system.

For self-defense the MH-47E is equipped with an AN/APR-39(v)1 radar-warning receiver, the AN/AVR-2 passive laser detection and warning set, the AN/ARR-47 passive missile warning system and the M-130 chaff/flare dispenser. To jam threat radar and electronic signals, the MH-47E is equipped with both the AN/ALQ-136(v) pulse jamming system and the AN/ALQ-162 Continuous Wave (CW) jammer.

Armament
The MH-47E is equipped with two pintle mounts (one located at the right side crew access door, one on the left hand side at the first window.) These pintles are capable of accepting a single machine gun, either an M-60D single barrel 7.62mm medium machine gun or a single General Electric M134 7.62mm 6-barreled minigun. The MH-47E can also be equipped with aircraft mounted Stinger missiles (FLIR targeted), giving it a limited anti-air capability.