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At a glance
Measured figures
Chinook HC6A · Length
Single sourceChinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Length · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Boeing Chinook (UK variants) | Leonardo Helicopters AW249 Fenice |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Transport helicopter[source] | Attack helicopter[source] |
| Manufacturer | Boeing Defense, Space & Security[source] | Leonardo[source] |
| Designer | Boeing-Vertol[source] | — |
| Status | In service[source] | Under development[source] |
Length
Single source17.63 m (57 ft 10 in)[source]
Wingspan
Single source14.60 m (47 ft 11 in)[source]
Chinook HC6A · 2 ×
Single sourceChinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Rotor diameter · Rotor
Single source2 × 60 ft 0 in (18.29 m)[source]
18.29m[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Rotor
Official specification · 59403073-05d2-0671-888c-08310f1f4385; 14.60 m
Manufacturer claim14.60 m[source]
Empty; Chinook HC6A · Empty weight
Single sourceGross; Chinook HC6A · Gross weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Chinook HC6A · Max takeoff weight
Single source22,450 lb (10,183 kg)[source]
26,680 lb (12,102 kg)[source]
50,000 lb (22,680 kg)[source]
Maximum take-off; Max takeoff weight
Single sourceOfficial specification · 59403073-05d2-0671-888c-08310f1f4385; 8,300 kg
Manufacturer claimChinook HC6A · pilot, copilot, two weapon system operators/loadmasters
Single source4 (pilot, copilot, two weapon system operators/loadmasters)[source]
2 Pilots, 2 Weapon System Operators[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · AircrewSource text · numeric interpretation needs review
two[source]
Maximum; Chinook HC6A · Maximum speed
Single sourceMaximum; Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Maximum speed · Maximum speed
Single source160 kn (180 mph, 300 km/h)[source]
160kt[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Maximum speed
Cruise; Cruise speed
Single sourceMaximum; at maximum cruise power, with an average mission weight
Single sourceChinook HC6A · 2 × Honeywell T55-GA-714A turboshaft free-turbine engines, 3,750 shp ( ) each
Single source2 × Honeywell T55-GA-714A turboshaft free-turbine engines, 3,750 shp (2,800 kW) each[source]
2 × General Electric CT7 -8E6 turboshaft Max take-off power: 2,503 shp ( ) Max continuous power: 2,274 shp (
Single sourcePowerplant
Single source2 × General Electric CT7 -8E6 turboshaft Max take-off power: 2,503 shp (1,866 kW) Max continuous power: 2,274 shp (1,696 kW))[source]
at maximum take-off power, with an average mission weight
Single source4 hours 5 minutes (at maximum take-off power, with an average mission weight)[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Primary user | Royal Air Force[source] | Italian Army Aviation[source] |
|---|
| Number built | 72 (all RAF models)[source] | 4 (early 2025)[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | 22 November 1980 (with RAF)[source] | — |
|---|
| First flight | 23 March 1980 (HC1)[source] | 12 August 2022[source] |
|---|
| Developed from | Boeing CH-47 Chinook[source] | — |
|---|
| Variants | HC1, HC1B, HC2, HC3, HC4, HC5, HC6, HC6A, HC7[source] | — |
|---|
| Capacity | 55 soldiers and up to 10 tonnes of freight or equipment[source] | 2,800 kg (6,200 lb) (weapons)[source] |
|---|
| Guns | 2× M134 Miniguns and 1× M60 machine gun[source] 2 x M134 Miniguns, 1 x M60 Machine Gun[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Guns | Gatling gun Leonardo TM197B (with 3 × 20 mm barrels, Integrated Helmet Display System enslaved)[source] |
|---|
| Main rotor area | 5,655.2 sq ft (525.39 m 2 )[source] | — |
|---|
| Blade section | - root: Boeing VR-7; tip: Boeing VR-8[source] | — |
|---|
| Cockpit Avionics | Glass cockpit with a BAE Systems Digital Advanced Flight Control System (DAFCS), includes automatic modes such as auto-hover and auto-descend to ease pilot workload.[source] | — |
|---|
| Sensors | Electro-Optical Sensor Turret (EOST) with two infrared cameras and a low-light TV function .[source] EOST turret including two infrared cameras and a low-light TV function[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Electro optics | — |
|---|
| Defensive Aids | Missile Warning Receiver, Infrared Warning Receiver, Radar Warning Receiver, Counter-measure dispensing system (flares).[source] | — |
|---|
| Country of origin | United States[source]Boeing Chinook (UK variants) · origin explicitly stated in the linked current national-inventory row; no inference from operator or shipyard | — |
|---|
| Powerplant | Two Honeywell 55-L-714A Free-Turbine engines[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Powerplant | — |
|---|
| Reported engine rating | 4,168shp each[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · ThrustSource text · numeric interpretation needs review | — |
|---|
| Flight altitude | 15,000ft[source]Chinook / RAF specification (variant not stated) · Maximum altitude | — |
|---|
| National origin | — | Italy[source] |
|---|
| Hardpoints | — | 6 (2 under each wing, 1 on the wingtip)[source] |
|---|
| Communications | — | Software defined radios (civil and military), Tactical Data Link 16. LTE Gateway for tactical data transfers, wide-band Datalink for UAV control (line of sight), IFF[source] |
|---|
| Rockets | — | Hydra 70 (launchers with 7 or 19 rockets, up to 4 launchers on the hardpoints under the wings)[source] |
|---|
| Missiles | — | Air-to-ground: Rafael Spike ER2 ,or Rafael Spike LR2 (launchers with 2 or 4 missiles each, up to 4 launchers on the hardpoints under the wings) Air-to-air missiles : likely MBDA Italia Fulgur (up to 2 launchers with two rails launching missiles, can be installed on the 6 hardpoints)[source] |
|---|
| Optics | — | observation and targeting system, pilot night vision system[source] |
|---|
| Electronic warfare | — | full EW suite with passive / active countermeasures, anti-jamming, anti GPS-spoofing[source] |
|---|
| Human-machine | — | helmet display system, enhanced human machine interface, battlefield management system, integrated mission system[source] |
|---|
| Screens | — | 2 multi-core touchscreen large area displays (situational awareness), 4 multi-core touchscreen enhanced display control units (controlling the aircraft systems)[source] |
|---|