The US Special Operations Command has awarded Boeing a $55.4 million contract to equip MH-47G Block II Chinook helicopters with an advanced flight-control augmentation system.
Under the firm-fixed-price agreement, Boeing will supply the Active Parallel Actuator System (APAS) and related components. The work is scheduled for completion by August 2033.
Developed by Boeing in partnership with BAE Systems, APAS is intended to reduce pilot workload, improve flight safety, and enhance aircraft control during demanding maneuvers. The system interfaces with the Digital Automatic Flight Control System (DAFCS) already installed on CH-47F and MH-47G helicopters.
Designed for aircraft that do not use fly-by-wire controls, APAS delivers tactile cues and force feedback through the existing flight-control mechanisms. These inputs alert pilots as the aircraft approaches its operational limits, enabling them to maneuver closer to the edge of the flight envelope while maintaining improved control and task accuracy.
MH-47G Block II Integration
Boeing began installing APAS on its Chinook production line earlier this year. According to the company, the system was fitted to a UK Extended Range Chinook in February and incorporated into standard production in April. The MH-47G Block II was designed as the first Chinook variant to receive APAS as standard equipment.
The variant is operated by the US Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, commonly known as the Night Stalkers. It is equipped with terrain-following radar, aerial refueling capability, advanced navigation systems, and extended fuel tanks to support long-range, low-level infiltration missions.
