Boeing has received a $173-million contract from the U.S. Air Force to deliver eight additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, expanding its current production to support advanced training and sustainment requirements. With this latest order, the total number of aircraft under contract rises to 34, of which 18 have already been delivered — including 12 from earlier low-rate production batches.
The newly ordered helicopters will be stationed at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, marking a new operational milestone for the Grey Wolf program. Built upon the Leonardo AW139 civilian platform, the twin-engine MH-139A has been customized by Boeing for U.S. military missions such as search and rescue, perimeter patrol, transport, and nuclear missile field security.
Manufacturing takes place at Boeing’s Philadelphia facility, while Leonardo supplies the airframes from its Italian production site. This collaboration allows Boeing to integrate military-specific systems including secure communications, defensive equipment, and modern avionics to meet the Air Force’s operational standards.
The MH-139A is part of the Air Force’s effort to replace its long-serving UH-1N Huey helicopters from the 1970s. Having successfully completed initial operational testing, the Grey Wolf demonstrated its performance in base defense, convoy escort, and nuclear security missions. The aircraft has also participated in joint readiness exercises, most recently with the 908th Operations Support Squadron and the 582nd Helicopter Group, showcasing its growing role in U.S. Air Force operations.
