Drones and space sensors are the predominant reasons the Boeing Ridley plant benefits from a shift in thinking from the U.S. Army, writes Loren Thompson for Forbes.

The Army surprised everyone when it canceled a planned scout helicopter, previously its top aviation priority, to focus instead on upgrading the Chinook helicopter, manufactured at Boeing’s Ridley Park plant.

The Army concluded that unmanned systems will play a larger role in battlefield reconnaissance, so there’s less need for a manned scout helicopter.

With that funding freed up, the Army can make a long-term commitment to upgrade Boeing’s CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, even as it buys more drones and counter-drone technology. 

The Chinook is expected to hang around until 2060, though there was never an official plan to upgrade the helicopter beyond the 69 used in special operations.

Now, there is a commitment to upgrade the other 465 Chinooks used by the Army and National Guard.

That should keep the Ridley Park plant busy with work through the 2030s.

The Boeing Ridley Park plant is the largest industrial employer in the lower Delaware Valley.

Find out more about how the Army’s realignment of its priorities greatly benefits the Ridley Boeing plant in Forbes.