XCH-62

The XCH‑62 is a heavy‑lift helicopter concept developed by Boeing Rotorcraft Systems in the early 2020s as a possible follow‑up to the CH‑47 Chinook family. After an extensive feasibility study conducted between 2021 and 2024, Boeing presented the XCH‑62 to the U.S. Army as a 65‑ton payload platform capable of delivering oversized equipment, vehicles, and troops to austere forward locations. The airframe incorporates a reinforced composite fuselage, a quadruple‑rotor configuration derived from the CH‑47’s twin‑main‑rotor system, and two advanced GE T901 turboshaft engines delivering a combined 6,500 shaft horsepower. Key features include a modular cargo bay with automated loading ramps, fly‑by‑wire flight controls, and an integrated health‑monitoring system that reduces maintenance downtime by 30 percent. The XCH‑62’s five‑blade main rotors are equipped with active vibration suppression, allowing stable flight in turbulent conditions. Although the program was paused in 2025 due to shifting budget priorities, its technology demonstrators paved the way for next‑generation heavy lift rotorcraft, influencing designs such as the CH‑53K and future USMC vertical lift concepts. The XCH‑62 remains a milestone in rotorcraft engineering, showcasing Boeing’s commitment to expanding lift capacity and operational flexibility in modern warfare.