Helis, August 04, 2021 - Col. William Rogers, U.S. Air Force’s program executive officer for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and special operations forces told reporters that the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter will enter production later than expected.
The Boeing MH-139A Grey Wolf is a military variant of the Leonardo AW139 helicopter built in Philadelphia, PA. In September 2018, Boeing won a $2.38 billion order for 84 helicopters to replace the aging UH-1N fleet.
The first 8 MH-139A were acquired in FY21 and further 8 were planned for FY22. However, delays in the military-specific technologies that need to be tested and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forced to defer the key Milestone C decision which would trigger the start of low rate initial production.
“We are in the process of revisiting our acquisition program baseline, and will be briefing the [service acquisition executive, Darlene Costello] in the near future,” Col. Rogers told reporters during a media roundtable.
There is a redesign of the sensor fairings on the front half of the aircraft, which have been discovered to impact the airflow to the helicopter’s pitot tubes — potentially leading to incorrect airspeed readings that can trigger a crash.
“There’s pitot tubes on both sides of the aircraft, so in certain conditions, the pitot tubes would not have the same airspeed readings,” Rogers said. “Boeing is right now in the process of testing the redesign. They have a couple of options and they’re doing the company testing now.”
“That will get us into [developmental tests], which is good. Then we can really start making progress on the program and testing our military equipment,” he said. “The other Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) will close in FY22.”
The Grey Wolf has already obtained one supplementary type certificate and will obtain another two before Christmas, said Matt Beck, the Air Force’s MH-139A system program manager.
US Air Force's 413th Flight Test Squadron at Duke Field Florida began flying the MH-139A in early 2020. 40th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, Montana is planned to be the first operational unit to receive the new helicopters.
The Boeing MH-139A Grey Wolf is a military variant of the Leonardo AW139 helicopter built in Philadelphia, PA. In September 2018, Boeing won a $2.38 billion order for 84 helicopters to replace the aging UH-1N fleet.
The first 8 MH-139A were acquired in FY21 and further 8 were planned for FY22. However, delays in the military-specific technologies that need to be tested and certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forced to defer the key Milestone C decision which would trigger the start of low rate initial production.
“We are in the process of revisiting our acquisition program baseline, and will be briefing the [service acquisition executive, Darlene Costello] in the near future,” Col. Rogers told reporters during a media roundtable.
There is a redesign of the sensor fairings on the front half of the aircraft, which have been discovered to impact the airflow to the helicopter’s pitot tubes — potentially leading to incorrect airspeed readings that can trigger a crash.
“There’s pitot tubes on both sides of the aircraft, so in certain conditions, the pitot tubes would not have the same airspeed readings,” Rogers said. “Boeing is right now in the process of testing the redesign. They have a couple of options and they’re doing the company testing now.”
“That will get us into [developmental tests], which is good. Then we can really start making progress on the program and testing our military equipment,” he said. “The other Supplemental Type Certificates (STC) will close in FY22.”
The Grey Wolf has already obtained one supplementary type certificate and will obtain another two before Christmas, said Matt Beck, the Air Force’s MH-139A system program manager.
US Air Force's 413th Flight Test Squadron at Duke Field Florida began flying the MH-139A in early 2020. 40th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom AFB, Montana is planned to be the first operational unit to receive the new helicopters.
See also |
MH-139A Grey Wolf in
US Air Force USAF Defers MH-139 Acquisitions
GAO Concerned about MH-139 Weight
MH-139 Begins Testing in Florida
USAF Selects MH-139 to Replace UH-1N Fleet
Delivery of First Four MH-139A Grey Wolf to USAF
Production Begins for USAF MH-139A Grey Wolf
