The United States Air Force has delivered two CH-47F Chinook helicopters to Australia in a gesture to strengthen their alliance.
The delivery is part of the US Defense Department’s Foreign Military Sales program and was organized by the 9th Airlift Squadron at Dover Air Force Base.
The CH-47F helicopters were loaded onto a C-5M Super Galaxy and transported from Dover to the Royal Australian Air Force Base in Townsville, Australia.
US-Australia Alliance
“The US-Australia alliance has been an anchor for peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific for decades,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a recent address. “We find strength not only in how vital and dependable the relationship has been, but also in how it has continued to evolve to meet the challenges we face and that our citizens face.”
The 9th AS aircrew, upon delivery, officially turned over the two Chinooks to the Australian Army, where they will soon be assigned.
“Our unshakeable alliance with Australia is enabled by Airmen and their personal connections with members of the Australian Defence Force,” said Col. Aaron Brooks, USAF Indo-Pacific Division chief.
“Execution of the foreign military sales program is just the latest example of how Airmen continue to deepen interoperability and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific alongside our allies.”