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Boeing has officially delivered the first MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter to the US Air Force.

What’s the deal: The new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter is now stationed at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. This helicopter will patrol the Minuteman III nuclear missile fields around the base. Malmstrom AFB is a vital location for the US Air Force, home to one of the country’s largest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) complexes. Initially, the Air Force intended to buy 80 MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, but this number has been reduced to 42 due to budget cuts. Each helicopter costs around $21 million.

What the helicopter is replacing: The MH-139A will replace the aging Vietnam-era UH-1N Huey helicopters, which have been used for decades to conduct security patrols, transport personnel, and ensure the safety and security of the missile fields. 

What the new helicopter has: According to Boeing, the new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter features advanced capabilities that significantly improve its operational effectiveness. It has state-of-the-art avionics and offers greater range, speed, and payload capacity.

What Boeing is saying: In a statement, Boeing executive Azeem Khan said, “This aircraft will directly support ongoing US Air Force modernization efforts. 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 US nuclear triad for decades to come.”