CHINOOK CAPABILITY SUSTAINMENT PROGRAMME (CSP)

Military Capability

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: £2.0bn
Published schedule: 31/03/2017 – 31/10/2030
NISTA delivery confidence: Not disclosed
Senior responsible owner: David Amlot

What the project is for

Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme Tranche 1 will provide a modern and cost effective transformational change to the UK Special User's vertical heavy lift capability with the procurement of 14 new-build Extended Range Chinook aircraft (H-47(ER)). The aircraft will be able to operate and survive in a multitude of environments, conducting high-tempo missions with minimal logistics footprint and high-levels of interoperability with key allies, to beyond 2050.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at Amber. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Continued uncertainty around actual infrastructure cost and schedule (mitigations underway to deliver programme milestones without supporting infrastructure), ability to develop required information solutions that are affordable and deliverable on schedule and, workforce shortages in key areas. 2. Value engineering is underway to ensure the programme remains affordable.

Schedule

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the programme's end-date at 25/26-Q4 remained the same at 31/12/2030. This is contingent on mitigations around delivering training ahead of infrastructure delivery.

Cost

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Whole Life Cost at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) increased from £1913.51M to £1948.89M. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. The Whole Life Cost forecast is subject to further review due to Infrastructure cost growth - the scale of which is yet to be determined. 2. There is similar uncertainty around information systems cost and deliverability that are currently being assessed.

Benefits

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Benefits at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) remained at 0. This is primarily due to the following factors. No monetised benefits.