PHILADELPHIA, PA - Boeing will produce four additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters and provide related sustainment for the U.S. Air Force, marking its second production contract for the aircraft in five months.
Following a $173 million award for eight aircraft in September, this recent contract increases the total value of the award to more than $262 million dollars.
Azeem Khan, director, MH-139 program, said “The quick succession of contracts demonstrates that the U.S. Air Force is all in on bringing the MH-139A capability to the warfighter as quickly as possible. Our team is dedicated to delivering and maintaining these aircraft, driven by a commitment to excellence, where safety and quality are our top priorities.”
This new order raises the total number of MH-139A aircraft under contract to 38. To date, 21 Grey Wolf aircraft have been delivered to the Air Force, including 12 that are part of the low-rate initial production contract awarded in 2023.
Based off the proven Leonardo Helicopters AW139 and fitted with custom military equipment by Boeing, the MH-139A is a multi-mission helicopter designed for patrol, search and rescue, and troop and cargo transport. Between Boeing and Leonardo, the program supports over a thousand jobs in the Philadelphia region and across the U.S.
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USAF Orders Four Additional MH-139A Grey Wolf Helicopters
A new contract for four additional Boeing/Leonardo MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters raises the total under contract with the U.S. Air Force to 38.
The MH-139A Grey Wolf replaces the aging Bell UH-1N Twin Huey and is intended for missions such as missile field security, personnel transport, and emergency response support, offering greater speed, range, and payload than its predecessor.
Did you know?
- The MH-139A Grey Wolf was the first major acquisition program undertaken by Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) since the command was established in 2009. While the U.S. Air Force has operated helicopters for decades, many earlier types entered service as adaptations of existing rotorcraft designs developed for other U.S. military branches—particularly the Army and Navy—rather than as a purpose-built procurement tailored to AFGSC’s missile security mission.
- Production of the MH-139A Grey Wolf is shared between two facilities in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. The baseline aircraft is assembled on Leonardo Helicopters’ FAA-certified production line at its northeast Philadelphia site, where the commercial AW139 is manufactured. Once completed, the helicopter is flown to Boeing’s facility in Ridley Park, where it is fitted with mission-specific military equipment, including communications and survivability systems tailored to the U.S. Air Force’s nuclear security requirements.
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