International chinook sales poised to keep boeing humming.

• Author: Parsons, Dan

Troops and military leaders from more than a dozen nations got a taste of what the Boeing Chinook helicopter can do by riding around in U.S. aircraft during combat in Afghanistan.

Returning home, military officers from several nations felt the lack of a heavy lift rotorcraft and have purchased their own fleets of the dual-rotor aircraft. With the end of U.S. Army Chinook orders in sight, Boeing's Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, plant is hoping to hum past 2019 on international purchases, company officials said.

"Across the board, the Chinook program has been recognized by the international community," said Mark Ballew, director of business development for cargo and utility helicopters programs for Boeing Military Aircraft. "When U.S. allies are deployed in Afghanistan or wherever, they are riding in the back of our Chinooks, or they have to borrow it and then realize that it is a capability that they want for themselves.

"It provides capabilities that nothing else can do in terms of high-altitude [and] large cargo," he added. "And every international customer that has bought a Chinook has come back and wanted more or an upgrade."

The Netherlands in 2006 became the first export customer for the CH-47F, the most advanced Chinook with an all-digital cockpit and "fat tanks" that double the fuel capacity and range of the previous model. The Dutch first flew their new Chinooks in 2011, according to a report by Richard Aboulafia, an industry analyst with the Teal Group.

Since then the "floodgates have opened" for international CH-47F sales, he said. For myriad missions--nation building, counterinsurgency and disaster relief--"the CH-47 is essential for all of these, and the existing D-model force is being worn down at a faster than expected rate. And there is no alternative," Aboulafia said.

Italy, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Canada and Australia have all purchased F-model Chinooks since 2010. Singapore and South Korea have expressed interest, Aboulafia said. India is buying 15, and a follow-on order is in the offing. Malaysia is another likely customer, among other Southeast Asian nations.

"Beyond that, all armies need something to move a platoon, and while the CH-53K and the Russians represent some competition, Boeing will capture almost all of this market," Aboulafia said.

Foreign military and direct commercial sales customers have been impressed not only by the aircraft's unique capabilities, but also by the timely and...