Honeywell Resumes Chinook Engine Builds

Honeywell has been awarded a contract worth as much as $1.1 billion to restart production of the T55-GA-714A turbine engine for the U.S. Army's Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopter. Honeywell has already upgraded 250 older T55 engines to the new configuration as the eight-year new-production program proceeds in parallel with the retrofit of the Army's 450 CH-47Ds into the Improved Cargo Helicopter variant.

The modernized engine delivers 22% more power and 7% better fuel economy than the current T55-L-12 engines, and is more reliable. The GA-714A features materials and cooling improvements, better corrosion protection, and FADEC. The engine is in service with the Royal Netherlands Air Force and is also to be used on Royal Air Force Chinooks as they are upgraded.

Honeywell has also been chosen to provide depot support for the RAF's Chinook engines. The five-year, $80 million contract establishes a long-term partnership between Honeywell and the UK Ministry of Defence's Defence Aviation Repair Agency (DARA), and is one of the first such military-civil teaming arrangements to support a front-line aircraft in the UK. It is also the first such partnership to involve a U.S. contractor.