The Ministry of Defence will give a major boost to the military helicopter fleet with 22 new Chinook helicopters, the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth announced today.

The first ten new Chinooks will start to roll off the production line in 2012 and be completed in 2013 increasing air support on the front-line in Afghanistan. The Chinook fleet will increase in size from 48 to 70 airframes. This announcement is part of a new Future Helicopter Strategy that will deliver a 40 per cent increase in the number of lift helicopters available for use on operations in extreme conditions, such as those in Afghanistan. The RAF will fly the new Chinook alongside the Merlins which arrived in Afghanistan last month.

The MOD has therefore announced today a £900m package of enhancements for operations in Afghanistan.

• 22 new Chinook helicopters, with the first 10 arriving during 2012/13, as set out in the Future Rotary Wing Strategy 

• an additional C-17 aircraft to strengthen the air bridge

• further improvements to our counter-IED capabilities, particularly intelligence and analytical capability to target the networks

• increased funding for our intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities, doubling Reaper capability

• an improved dismounted close combat equipment package – making equipment such as state-of-the-art body armour and night-vision goggles available to 50 per cent more troops so they can train with them before deploying to Afghanistan

• more Bowman tactical radios and patrol satellite systems to improve communications between troops and their commanders and an additional £80m for communications facilities for our Special Forces

• improvements to defensive aids suites and support arrangements for the Hercules C-130J fleet to maximise their use.