The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $173 million contract for eight additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, bringing the total number under contract to 34 aircraft as the service continues replacing its aging fleet of Vietnam-era utility helicopters.
The Oct. 8 contract expands the Grey Wolf program, which has delivered 18 helicopters to date, according to The Defense Post. The new aircraft will be stationed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where they will support nuclear security missions.
The MH-139A program is advancing toward Initial Operational Capability as operational test flights continue. Boeing completed deliveries earlier this year to the first operational unit at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.
“The MH-139A offers increased speed, range and payload capacity critical to supporting U.S. national security missions,” said Azeem Khan, MH-139 program director at Boeing. “We look forward to delivering these advanced aircraft to bases across the country.”
The Grey Wolf represents a substantial upgrade over the UH-1N Huey it is replacing. The new helicopter has a cruise speed 50% faster than the Huey, with 50% greater range and a cabin 30% larger. It can also lift 5,000 pounds more cargo, according to Airman Magazine.
The aircraft’s missions include patrol, search and rescue, troop and cargo transport, and VIP transport. Most critically, the Grey Wolf will protect intercontinental ballistic missile bases operated by Air Force Global Strike Command.
Boeing is serving as prime contractor on the program, while Leonardo Helicopters’ Philadelphia factory will manufacture up to 84 airframes based on the commercial AW139 helicopter. Boeing then installs military systems to convert the civilian aircraft into multi-mission military helicopters.
The Air Force estimates it will save $1 billion over the helicopter’s lifetime due to the wide commercial availability of parts, services and maintenance for the AW139. More than 900 AW139s are in service worldwide with over 270 government agencies, militaries and private companies.
The AW139 was selected for the program in 2018 after 260 helicopters had already been assembled at Leonardo’s Philadelphia plant. The first MH-139A began testing in 2019 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, and the aircraft flew with a full active-duty Air Force crew for the first time in 2022.
The Grey Wolf will support Air Force Global Strike Command, which operates the land-based portion of the nation’s nuclear triad. The command is responsible for ICBM silos dispersed across Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska, as well as the nuclear-capable bomber fleet including the B-52, B-2 Spirit and forthcoming B-21 Raider.
The UH-1N Huey has performed these same security missions since 1970. The Air Force is also modernizing its ICBM arsenal, with the new Sentinel missile system set to replace the current Minuteman III.
Air Force Global Strike Command is responsible for two-thirds of U.S. nuclear forces, with the Navy operating ballistic missile submarines as the final component of the nuclear triad.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $173 million contract for eight MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, bringing the total under contract to 34 aircraft, with 18 delivered to date.
- The Grey Wolf provides 50% faster speed, 50% greater range, and 5,000 pounds more lift capacity than the UH-1N Huey it replaces, which has served since 1970.
- The aircraft will protect intercontinental ballistic missile bases across five states for Air Force Global Strike Command, which operates two-thirds of U.S. nuclear forces.
- Based on Leonardo’s commercial AW139 airframe, the program is expected to save $1 billion over the helicopter’s lifetime due to widespread parts availability.
