CH-46N Chinook "Lancer"
General characteristics
Crew: 3 (pilot, copilot, flight engineer or loadmaster)
Weight: 13 tons, 26,250 pounds (11,931 kg)
Capacity: 22-28 ton, 44,000-56,000 lb, (20,000 to 22,500 kilogram) payload
33–55 troops or
24 stretchers and 3 attendants or
Length: 101 ft (30 m)
Fuselage length: 54 ft (16 m)
Width: 13 ft 5 in (3.78 m) (fuselage)
Height: 19 ft 11 in (5.77 m)
Empty weight: 26,250 pounds (11,931 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 76,500 lb (34,800 kg), 82,500 lb (with difficulty at low altitude)
Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming T55-GA-714C turboshaft engines, 6000-6500 shp (4500-4800 kW) each
Main rotor diameter: 2 × 65 ft (19.5 m)
Main rotor area: 6,100 sq ft (520 m2)
Blade section: root: Boeing VR-7; tip: Boeing VR-8[168]
Performance
Maximum speed: 170 kn (196 mph, 315 km/h)
Cruise speed: 160 kn (184 mph, 296 km/h)
Range: 400 nmi (460 mi, 740 km)
Combat range: 200 nmi (230 mi, 370 km)
Ferry range: 1,216 nmi (1,399 mi, 2,252 km) [169]
Service ceiling (with full load-out): 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Rate of climb: 1,522 ft/min (7.73 m/s)
Disk loading: 9.5-15 lb/sq ft (46-69 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.28-42 hp/lb (0.46-69 kW/kg)
Armament
Guns: 2 × 30mm Chaingun
2 x .270 or .30 Caliber Miniguns
2x Javeline Anti-tank missiles
x8 AGM-114 hellfire missiles or 8 Hydra missile pods
General Synopsis
The CH-46N Chinook Lancer is a heavy lift cargo transport helicopter, utilizing upgraded engines to go from a 12.5 ton payload to approximately 22-25 ton payload, allowing the vehicle to lift a standard armored personnel carrier the size of a Stryker in to combat. The interior bay is extended slightly to be taller, wider, and longer by a few feet, and the interior is slightly strengthened (adding nearly 2000 pounds of weight), allowing for a larger and heavier vehicle to be transported. This allows standard APC's to be transported in to combat, a significant strategic capabilities to add to armored units. The vehicle is designed to carry approximately 70,000 pounds of weight with it's 26,000 pound frame, or approximately 23 tons, however in it's maximum carry load it can carry 76,000 pounds for short durations or with signifignat stress on the engines. The program is based on an existing U.S. military program, designed to improve the engine's power from 4500 to 6000 or more horsepower. For brief periods, the engines are capable of putting out more power, especially if filled with water vapor in the initial take off phase, up to 6500 horsepower, in comparison to it's standard 6000 horsepower limit. Removable wings are also available to improve fuel consumption on longer flights, although they have a higher footprint when storing the vehicle or when landing. With a short take off and vertical landing, the vehicle is capable of carrying slightly heavier payloads in to combat, especially when used with the wings. The vehicle also has a slightly larger wing radius and surface area for the helicopter blades than the standard Chinook. This helps to improve the power of the aircraft marginally without resulting in stability issues by utilizing more modern and stronger composite materials for the blade, thus allowing for a slightly larger wing radius and more thrust. The vehicle's speed is approximately the same as the standard chinook, both to translate to greater power and to avoid the general stability issues associated with higher speeds.
The vehicle typically is also paired with a 30mm chaingun and two .270 caliber miniguns, giving it a substantial firepower boost over the original chinook. These weapons add a slight bit of weight and take up some interior cargo space, thus making their use optional; the heavy lift cargo aircraft is expected to go deep in to enemy territory with heavily armored vehicles, and thus is expected to carry some of it's own protection. It also makes the vehicle multirole, although it is not intended as a gunship and primarily aids in assisting the soldiers when landing or in the defense of the aircraft against ground targets. The .270 miniguns have a much longer range than the .30 caliber miniguns given the newer and more aerodynamic U.S. military cartridge, designed for longer range and better armor penetration. This round shares commonality with the newer U.S. military infantry weapons and can share ammunition with the soldiers and vehicles on the ground.
