Boeing delivers first Grey Wolf helicopter to guard missile bases

Boeing (NYSE:BA) on Monday said it delivered the first MH-139A Grey Wolf production helicopter to the U.S. Air Force. The aircraft is part of a 2023 initial production order for 13 helicopters and will be stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana.

“This aircraft will directly support ongoing U.S. Air Force modernization efforts,” Azeem Khan, MH-139 executive director and program manager, said in a statement. “Delivering this asset for the MH-139A fleet is critical to the future of national security as the Grey Wolf will play a crucial role in the U.S. nuclear triad for decades to come.”

Photo: Boeing

The Air Force this year awarded Boeing (BA) a contract for seven more MH-139As. With six research, development, test and evaluation aircraft already delivered, Boeing (BA) now has 26 aircraft on contract, the company said.

Boeing (BA) in 2022 delivered four test versions of the MH-139A to the Air Force. The rotocraft is a replacement for the military branch’s aging fleet of UH-1N Huey helicopters that protect the country’s intercontinental missile bases. The original contract for the Grey Wolf was valued at $2.4 billion for as many as 84 helicopters and related support and training equipment.

Leonardo (DRS) makes the baseline helicopter at its plant in northeast Philadelphia, and Boeing (BA) handles military equipment procurement and installation and post-delivery support of the aircraft.