MOD details fate of nine removed Chinook helicopters

The breakdown was provided in a written parliamentary answer to Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty, who asked about the reduction identified in the UK Armed Forces equipment and formations statistics published on 20 August.

Defence Minister Luke Pollard said: “Nine Chinook helicopters were removed from the reported fleet between 2024 and 2026.”

Of those aircraft, three have been retained by Defence for training and heritage purposes, while five are being disposed of under existing Defence procedures.

Pollard said: “Of these nine aircraft, three have been retained for training and heritage purposes, five are being disposed of in accordance with Defence disposal policy, and one aircraft is being retained to provide structural spares in support of the remaining in-service Chinook fleet.”

The answer accounts for the full reduction of nine aircraft recorded between the 2024 and 2026 equipment figures. Five are therefore leaving the Defence inventory through disposal, while four continue to have a role supporting training, heritage or the operational fleet. The aircraft retained for structural spares will be used to support the remaining in-service Chinook force, allowing components from the airframe to contribute to sustaining other helicopters.

Obese-Jecty’s question followed publication of the latest annual UK Armed Forces equipment and formations statistics, which showed that the reported Chinook fleet had fallen by nine aircraft compared with 2024. Chinook helicopters provide heavy-lift support to the Armed Forces, moving personnel, equipment and supplies and supporting a range of military tasks. Maintaining structural spares from a withdrawn airframe provides another source of components for aircraft remaining in service.