{"id":58647,"date":"2019-12-19T16:59:26","date_gmt":"2019-12-19T16:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2019\/12\/19\/the-air-forces-uh-1n-huey-replacement-helicopter-got-a-new-name-today\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:22:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:22:25","slug":"the-air-forces-uh-1n-huey-replacement-helicopter-got-a-new-name-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2019\/12\/19\/the-air-forces-uh-1n-huey-replacement-helicopter-got-a-new-name-today\/","title":{"rendered":"The US Air Force\u2019s UH-1N Huey replacement helicopter has a new name"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 The U.S. Air Force accepted its first MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter Thursday, paving the way for the replacement of the aging UH-1N Huey helicopters <\/a>that have patrolled missile fields for almost five decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air Force Global Strike Command head. Gen. Timothy Ray announced the name of the aircraft<\/a> during a ceremony commemorating the first M-139 delivery on Dec. 19 at Duke Field, Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boeing won the $2.38 billion Huey replacement contract <\/a>in September 2018. The company\u2019s offering \u2014 a militarized version of the commercial AW139 helicopter made by Italian firm Leonardo \u2014 beat out Lockheed Martin Sikorsky and Sierra Nevada Corp. in an upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both Lockheed and SNC had proposed UH-60 Black Hawk derivatives, but Boeing shaved $1.7 billion off the Air Force\u2019s expected program cost to nab the award. As such, the Grey Wolf is the first Air Force helicopter to be of a completely different airframe than ones owned by the other services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far Boeing has received an initial $375 million award for the first four helicopters and the integration of military-specific items necessary for the AW139 to meet the Air Force\u2019s requirements. The company will deliver a second Grey Wolf in mid-January, with the third and fourth aircraft following in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The formal designation of the MH-139 comes a day after the Air Force stood up the first detachment, which will be supporting test and evaluation of the helicopter. Lt. Col. Mary Clark took command of Detachment 7 during a Dec. 18 ceremony at Duke Field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Air Force Global Strike Command, Detachment 7 will own four helicopters and will be comprised of pilots and special-mission aviators. The detachment will be temporarily located at Duke Field before moving to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force plans to buy 84 helicopters over the course of the program. The aircraft will be used for a wide variety of missions, including defending intercontinental ballistic missile fields, search and rescue, and missions in the capital region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Grey Wolf will be able to carry nine fully loaded troops. The aircraft should be able to hit a 135-knot cruise speed and fly for at least 3 hours \u2014 and a minimum distance of 225 nautical miles \u2014 without needing to be refueled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Gen Timothy Ray just announced "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Grey Wolf." pic.twitter.com\/pbdv0EgWAO<\/a><\/p>— Air Force Global Strike Command (@AFGlobalStrike) December 19, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>