Air Force MH-139A Grey Wolf Makes First Flight in Montana

Malmstrom Air Force Base is one of three intercontinental ballistic missile bases set to receive the service’s newest helicopter.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 12:14 PM ET

Verified

A MH-139A Grey Wolf prepares to land at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, March 5, 2024. The Grey Wolf provides the ability to cruise 50 percent faster and farther than the UH-1N Huey helicopters, while also having a 30 percent larger cabin and capability to lift 5,000 pounds more. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force's newest helicopter, the MH-139 Grey Wolf, completed its first flight at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.
Manufactured by Boeing and Leonardo, the Grey Wolf is scheduled to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of Bell UH-1N Hueys.
The new helicopters will perform crucial missions such as nuclear weapons convoy surveillance, ICBM security operations, search and rescue, and personnel transport.
The Air Force plans to acquire 42 MH-139s, to be stationed at three ICBM bases including Malmstrom, F.E. Warren, and Minot AFBs.

See a mistake? Contact us.

The U.S. Air Force’s newest helicopter—the MH-139 Grey Wolf—has taken its first flight at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.

The helicopters, which are manufactured by partners Boeing and Leonardo, are scheduled to replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging fleet of Bell UH-1N Hueys that perform missions such as off-base nuclear weapons convoy surveillance and routine missile site support. The service has operated the military variant of the Bell 212 since 1970.