Boeing clinches $1.2 billion Canadian deal

US aircraft firm Boeing has won a $1.2 billion order to supply 15 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters to the Canadian armed forces.  Chicago-based Boeing expects to deliver the twin-engine CH-47F helicopters between 2013 and 2014. They will be built at the Boeing Rotorcraft Systems facility in Ridley Township, Pennsylvania.  There is also scope for Boeing to win a 20-year in-service support and maintenance contract for the new fleet, worth up to $2.2 billion. The Canadian government is currently prioritizing helicopter procurement, as around 2,800 of its troops are on operations in Afghanistan. Commenting on the deal, Jack Dougherty, Boeing vice president, H-47 Programs, said: "Boeing is extremely pleased that Canada has selected the CH-147 Chinook, the world's leading tandem-rotor helicopter, to modernize its defense forces' airlift fleet.ÔÇØ┬á Peter MacKay, Canada's minister of National Defense and minister for the Atlantic Gateway said: "This contract is key in ensuring the Canadian Forces are a first-class, modern, flexible force capable of defending Canada and the Canadian interest for years to come.┬á┬á "This helicopter will give Canada's military a robust capability with the ability to operate in remote and isolated areas, and increase their capacity to respond to disasters both at home and abroad." Boeing has said it will match the purchase price of the helicopters by partnering with and issuing contracts to companies in Canada. More than $500 million of deals already have been signed with Canadian firms. The deal is welcome news for BoeingÔÇÖs military division, which has been hit hard this year by cuts to the PentagonÔÇÖs procurement budget. * ┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á*┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *