US Air Force Boosts Grey Wolf Fleet with New Orders

The US Air Force has ordered four more MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters for full-rate production, bringing the total under contract to 42 out of a planned 56. The four million dollar per unit price tag is still above what the Nunn-McCurdy law allows, but Boeing expects to deliver the new aircraft in 2028 or 2029.

The Grey Wolf helicopters are designed to replace the Vietnam-era UH-1N Huey, which has guarded the nation's land-based nuclear missiles for decades. The new aircraft boasts improved speed, carrying capacity, and defensive systems, with Air Force Global Strike Command commander Gen. S.L. Davis saying that securing these missiles demands 'our best efforts'.

The order comes after the helicopter reached initial operational capability on August 10, with crews and aircraft cleared for real-world missions. Boeing's Kathleen Jolivette said the milestone validates key readiness levels for Grey Wolf and supports the service's fielding plans to secure vital national assets.