Boeing has secured another contract to deliver four additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters to the US Air Force as part of the service’s ongoing modernization program.
The latest award follows a $173 million contract issued in September for eight MH-139As, as well as an earlier low-rate production order for 26 aircraft. With this contract, total orders for the Grey Wolf now stand at 38 helicopters, of which 21 have already been delivered.
The MH-139A program is intended to replace the US Air Force’s aging UH-1N Huey fleet, which has been in service since the 1970s. Compared to the UH-1N, the Grey Wolf offers approximately 50 percent greater speed and range, along with an increased payload capacity of 5,000 pounds (2,300 kilograms).
Based on the Leonardo AW139 and modified by Boeing for military operations, the multi-mission MH-139A is designed for patrol, search and rescue, and troop and cargo transport missions.
The aircraft will support nuclear security, emergency response, airlift, and convoy escort operations both in the US and overseas. Delivered helicopters have already been incorporated into training activities, including missions related to nuclear transport.
The MH-139A measures 54.8 feet (16.7 meters) in length and stands 16.4 feet (5 meters) tall, featuring a 45.3-foot (13.8-meter) main rotor and a maximum takeoff weight of 15,432 pounds (7,000 kilograms).
It has a cruising speed of up to 146 knots and a maximum speed of 167 knots, with a range of 410 nautical miles and a service ceiling of 20,000 feet.
