U.S. Air Force Completes Final MH-139A Grey Wolf Helicopter Test to Safeguard Nuclear Missile Sites

The U.S. Air Force has successfully completed the final phase of Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) for the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter, marking a major step toward full-rate production of the aircraft. According to an update by Boeing on July 16, 2025, this concludes a six-month-long intensive testing campaign that evaluated the helicopter’s performance, maintenance needs, and mission readiness under real-world conditions.

The MH-139A Grey Wolf, a military version of the Leonardo AW139 commercial helicopter, has been specially modified by Boeing to replace the decades-old UH-1N Huey. With this upgrade, the Air Force is modernizing its air fleet to protect key nuclear sites and improve national defense capabilities.

Designed to defend Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fields located in Montana (Malmstrom AFB), North Dakota (Minot AFB), and Wyoming (F.E. Warren AFB), the Grey Wolf brings faster speed, longer range, a larger cabin, and stronger survivability compared to the Huey. It also supports other operations like VIP transport, medical evacuation, and disaster response.

During testing, the helicopter was evaluated in missions like convoy escort, missile field patrols, airbase defense, and emergency team deployment. These trials proved that the MH-139A can perform effectively and be maintained reliably in complex and demanding environments, especially in nuclear security operations.

The Grey Wolf is built with advanced features such as autopilot, ballistic protection, crashworthy fuel systems, missile warning sensors, electronic countermeasures, and mounts for M240 machine guns. It also boasts 50% more speed, 50% longer range, a 30% larger cabin, and can carry an additional 5,000 pounds over the Huey.

The Air Force began acquiring the Grey Wolf in 2018, initially ordering 13 helicopters for $285 million. Another 13 units were added in 2023, and in 2024, seven more were contracted, bringing the total to 33 aircraft. The program may eventually expand to 84 helicopters, with a projected total cost of $2.38 billion.

Training for MH-139A pilots and crews is ongoing at Maxwell AFB under the 908th Flying Training Wing, with support from the 703rd and 24th Helicopter Squadrons. The helicopters will also operate under several Air Force commands, including Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Education & Training Command, and Pacific Air Forces.

With the IOT&E phase now complete, the Air Force will conduct a final analysis of all performance data to formally approve full-rate production. This will allow Boeing to scale up manufacturing and begin widespread deployment of the aircraft.

The MH-139A Grey Wolf is set to become a key pillar of America's nuclear security strategy, providing rapid response and robust defense for the country’s most sensitive strategic assets in an evolving global threat environment.