The Spanish Army already has 17 heavy CH-47 Chinook helicopters of the Foxtrot version

The Spanish Army's Airmobile Forces (FAMET) experienced a very special day this Tuesday: the arrival of a new CH-47F Chinook.

A FAMET pilot explains in detail the CH-47F Chinook helicopters of the Spanish Army
Boeing delivers 17th CH-47F Chinook helicopter to Spain and announces one more unit

The delivery ceremony for the new helicopter was held at the Helicopter Park and Maintenance Center (PCMHEL) in Colmenar Viejo, Madrid. The new aircraft will be part of the 5th Transport Helicopter Battalion (BHELTRA V), based at the "Coronel Maté" Air Base in Colmenar Viejo.

This helicopter is the 17th of the Spanish CH-47F. It has registration HT.17-36A, number ET-436 and serial number 10297, corresponding to the previous units received by FAMET. As you may recall, in October 2024 Boeing announced the delivery of a 18th helicopter for 2026.

Of the 17 CH-47Fs received so far by FAMET, 13 are existing CH-47Ds that have undergone a deep modernization, in which all possible components of the helicopters that the Army had operated since 1973 were used.

The 18th helicopter pending delivery will fulfill a long-standing dream of the Spanish Army: to recover its planned fleet of 18 Chinooks. Recall that the first CH-47s arrived in Spain in 1973, with 10 units of the Charly version (CH-47C), which were upgraded to the Delta version (CH-47D) in 1989. A batch of 9 additional CH-47Ds was purchased in 1982.

Two of the Spanish Chinooks were lost. The first of these was the CH-47C Z.17-1, lost in an accident on February 20, 1973, with no casualties. The second, the CH-47D HT.17-13, was lost on January 17, 1995, in another accident, also with no casualties. The Spanish Army always planned to have 18 CH-47s, but the 1995 accident left the fleet incomplete, until now, 30 years later.

According to the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the reception of this 18th CH-47F was attended by the Minister, Margarita Robles, and the Chief of Staff of the Army (JEME), Army General Amador Enseñat y Berea. The Ministry highlighted: "The CH-47F model incorporates, among other new features, digital flight systems, a carbon fiber cell, which is lighter and more resistant, and communication systems adapted to the Single European Sky regulations."

Today's event was also attended by the crew of this new helicopter, consisting of four people: a captain (pilot), two sergeants, and a soldier.

Like the other 16 CH-47Fs already received by Spain, the HT.17-36A is painted entirely in FS34201 (Woodland Desert Sage), the color introduced in 2006 by the US Army for its CH-47Fs, replacing FS34031 Aircraft Green used since 1989. FS34201 is considered a more suitable color to provide better camouflage to helicopters with a single-color scheme in desert or sparsely vegetated environments, where operations such as those in Afghanistan and Iraq have been carried out.

In addition to this new helicopter, the Ministry of Defense has highlighted that "a simulation system equipped with the most advanced technology available today and the first of its kind in Europe has also been launched. Handling the Chinook, which is one of the most powerful transport helicopters on the market, capable of carrying more than 10 tons of weight, requires great skill and preparation on the part of the pilots. With the new simulator, developed by Indra, they will be able to train not only in flying the aircraft, but also in coordinating with the entire deployed force."

+ UPDATED 4/9/2025 10:00 PM: I mistakenly indicated in this entry that this helicopter was unit number 18. I've just corrected that. I apologize for the inconvenience.

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Photos: Ministerio de Defensa.