Boeing CH-47 Chinook forces. The CH-47JA, introduced in 1993, is a long-range version of the CH-47J, fitted with an enlarged fuel tank, an AAQ-16 FLIR in a turret under the nose, and a partial glass cockpit. Both versions are built under license in Japan by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, who produced 61 aircraft by April 2001. The Japan Defense Agency ordered 54 aircraft of which 39 were for the JGSDF and 15 were for the JASDF. Boeing supplied flyable aircraft, to which Kawasaki added full avionics, interior, and final paint. The CH-47J model Chinook (N7425H) made its first flight in January 1986, and it
Joint Helicopter Support Unit Joint Helicopter Support Unit The Joint Helicopter Support Unit (JHSU) was a joint organisation of the British Army and the Royal Air Force, located in RAF Odiham. It was formed in July 1982, following the introduction of the Chinook HC MK1 Helicopter. Personnel were drawn from the Royal Corps of Transport (RCT) and Royal Army Ordnance Corps (RAOC) (both now amalgamated into the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC)) plus the Royal Corps of Signals and the Royal Air Force (RAF). The JHSU became the Joint Helicopter Support Squadron (JHSS) following its merger with the RAF Mobile Air Operations Team (RAF MAOT)