Press Releases

Ridley Park, PA — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today announced that after nearly five years of leading Congressional efforts to ensure a stable, long-term path forward for the CH-47F Block II Chinook, the U.S. Army will end uncertainty over the future of the program by formally entering it into production. This decision guarantees over 20 years of production at Boeing's Ridley Park facility, supporting nearly 4,000 jobs.

“I am thrilled to announce the Army's decision to recommit to Chinook modernization. This decision guarantees over 20 years of production at Boeing's Ridley Park facility, supporting thousands of good-paying jobs in our region as well as our national security,” said Rep. Scanlon. “For decades, Chinook production has been a critical regional economic engine, with multiple generations of families working at the Ridley Park facility. With this decision, that tradition will continue. Since coming to Congress, I have worked to find the path forward for the Chinook, and I’m proud to deliver job stability for the men and women of the UAW 1069 who build the Chinook.”

Since coming to Congress, Scanlon has led bipartisan, bicameral efforts to work with the Army and President Biden to reverse the Trump Administration's decision to end Chinook modernization. Before that decision, the Army had committed to procuring almost 500 Block II Chinooks to modernize its heavy lift fleet. In 2019, the Department of Defense under then-Secretary Mark Esper conducted a department-wide review of major defense acquisition programs. This led to a five-year pause of Block II procurement to allow the Army to reconsider its modernization priorities and free up budget space for the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) program.

Since the pause, Scanlon has led Congressional efforts to persuade the Army to recommit to Chinook modernization and fully fund Block II production. Over the past four years, she secured nearly $1 billion for continued Chinook procurement (see funding for fiscal years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023). In March 2023, the first Block II Chinook came off the assembly line in Ridley Park. Most recently, Scanlon and Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) led over 30 members of Congress on a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Army and White House in support of the program. 

“The people of Delaware County have served their country for generations by manufacturing the Army’s sole heavy lift helicopter,” said Senator Casey. “I have fought for Ridley Park for my entire career in the Senate, particularly when the previous Administration left the facility and its workers out to dry in 2019. The Army’s renewed commitment to manufacturing Chinooks in Delco means that good-paying union jobs are here to stay in Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

“We thank Congresswoman Scanlon, Senator Casey, and their staff for all their hard work,” said UAW Local 1069 Committeeman James Rugh. “This is huge for Boeing Ridley Park. This decision helps secure the future of our hard-working UAW 1069 Brothers and Sisters.”

“There is nothing more important to us than supporting the warfighter,” said Kathleen (KJ) Jolivette, Vice President and General Manager, Vertical Lift, Boeing. “The Army’s decision is a reflection of their confidence in our heavy-lift platform and is a testament to the great work our teammates do each and every day. We are thankful for the strong congressional support from across the Delaware Valley region and indeed across the country, and we are excited for the future of Chinook.”

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