US Army grounds entire Chinook helicopter fleet
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
World Affairs
- Published
3rd Sep, 2022
-
Context
The US Army has grounded its fleet of CH-47 Chinook helicopters after finding the helicopter to be at risk of engine fires.
- The Indian Air Force (IAF) also operates a fleet of Chinook Helicopters.
What are Chinook helicopters?
- The US Army operates around 400 Chinook helicopters.
- Chinook helicopters are known to be the icons of US wars from Vietnam to the Middle East.
- The Chinooks, originally known as the CH-47 are in service across the US armed forces as well as in nearly 20 countries including India.
- These medium-lift, multi-role helicopters are manufactured by Boeing who perform a variety of tasks in support of Army operations.
What implications does this development have for Indian Air Force (IAF)?
- The IAF operates a fleet of 15 Chinook helicopters and it has not grounded them as it awaits more word on the US development.
- The Chinooks were inducted into the IAF in 2019 in a ceremony at Chandigarh.
- One Helicopter Unit of Chinooks is based in Chandigarh
- The other is based at Mohanbari air base in Assam.