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Canadian Forces Procurement –  US FMS Notice –  Boeing CH-47D Chinook Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopters  —  Six CH-47D Chinooks US Foreign Military Sale Notice  — Proposed Sale to Canada To satisfy United States law,  the US  Department of  Defense's  Defense Security Cooperation Agency must notify the US Congress of potential exports of any US- made or controlled military equipment through Foreign Military Sales. If approved by Congress, DoD or manufacturer(s) will receive permission to export  to Canada. The subject of  buying used Chinooks  for the  Canadian Forces needs little further discussion. The CH-47D model is the current US Army service variant. This Foreign Military Sales notice covers six stock-standard US Army 'D models (and seems to be unrelated to the CHAPS program). The proposed package also covers a degree of in- service support and  limited spares (including two AlliedSignal T55 turbine engines). Also mentioned are 30 pairs of night vision goggles but these are listed as "AN/AVS-6/7(V)1 Aviation Night Vision Imaging Systems". The AN/AVS-6(V)1 ANVIS is an earlier model NVG which tend to produce a bright 'halo' around light sources. AN/AVS-7(V)1 (known as the ANVIS/HUD-24  by its maker, Elbit Systems) is a 'Heads-Up' development of the ANVIS. An add- on module allows daylight operation. Various, unidentified pieces of  navigational, communications, and mission gear plus support equipment are also mentioned  –  presumably standard CH-47 components. The FMS notice also includes four M240H spade- grip machineguns  (a US version of the FN MAG, designated C6 in Canadian service).  The number of  M240s suggests that only 4 of the 6 CH-46Ds would be deployed to Afghanistan –  the other 2 aircraft  being used  for training.  It was rumoured that  M134D MiniGuns  might arm  CF Chinooks. The M240H purchase does not preclude M134Ds. What is drawn into question is the future of  the  Medium-to-Heavy Lift Helicopter plan. Criticized as 'gold-plated' by many, these CH-47F+  model Chinooks would not even begin to arrive until Canada's commitment was over.  Even the six CH-47Ds will not be available in time for the increased combat tempo of the Afghan summer (these Chinooks are expected sometime this Fall ). They will be very welcome but it may be that these 6  CH-47s are as many medium-lift helicopters as our Air Force can handle. The text of the FMS notice  (as published by the US DSCA)  is reproduced below: ______________________________________________   Defense Security Cooperation Agency   NEWS RELEASE   On the web: http://www.dsca.mil   Media/Public Contact: (703) 601-3670   Date: 21 April 2008  [web posted 23 April 2008] ______________________________________________ Transmittal No. 08-49 CANADA — CH-47D CHINOOK Helicopters WASHINGTON,   April 21, 2008   —   The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible  Foreign  Military Sale to Canada of  [six]  CH-47D CHINOOK  Helicopters as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as [US] $375 million. The Government of  Canada has requested a possible sale of 6 CH-47D CHINOOK Helicopters with 12  (2 per helicopter)  T55-GA-714A Turbine engines,  4  [7.62mm] M240H Machine Guns [equivalent to CF C6],  30  AN/AVS-6/7(V)1 Aviation Night Vision Imaging Systems, ... 2  spare T-55-GA-714A ... engines,  mission equipment, communication and  navigation equipment,  ground support equipment, spare and repair parts, special tools and test equipment, publications and technical data, site survey,  Quality  Assurance  Team  support,   contractor   technical   and  logistics personnel services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $375 million. This proposed sale  will contribute  to the foreign policy and national security ob- jectives of  the United States by improving the military capabilities of  Canada and further weapon system standardization and interoperability with U.S. forces. Canadian deployments in support of  peacekeeping and  humanitarian operations have made a significant impact to global political and economic stability and have served U.S. national security interests. Canada needs these helicopters to enhance its capabilities in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Having the same [CH-47D] configuration as the U.S. would greatly contribute to Canada's military capability by making it a more sustainable coalition force to support GWOT. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region. The prime contractors will be:  The Boeing Company in Ridley Park, PA;  Honey- well, Inc. in Phoenix, AZ; and FN Enterprise in Lubbock, TX. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of contractor rep- resentatives to Canada and in the theater of operations for an unspecified amount of time. Also, ... 6  U.S. Government  personnel will participate in program management and technical reviews in-country for one to two-week intervals twice annually to support site surveys and delivery of the CH-47D helicopters in-country. There will  be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of  this pro- posed sale. This  notice of  a potential sale  is  required  by law;  it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.