New MH-139A ‘Grey Wolf’ helicopter

DUKE FIELD, Fla. - The Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) named its new MH-139A helicopter “Grey Wolf” during a naming ceremony here Dec. 19. Gen. Timothy Ray, AFGSC commander, made the announcement of the command's first major acquisition in its 10-year history. The name Grey Wolf is derived from the wild species that roams the northern tier of North America, which also encompasses the intercontinental ballistic missile bases within AFGSC. The helos will provide security and support for the nation’s ICBM fields that span Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado and Nebraska. The new helicopter closes the capability gaps of the UH-1N Huey in the areas of speed, range, endurance, payload and survivability in support of the command’s ICBM missions. Other mission capabilities include civil search and rescue, airlift support, National Capital Region missions, as well as survival school and test support. The roll out demonstrates an asset that provides ICBM security support of U.S. Strategic Command’s nuclear deterrence operations aligned with the National Defense Strategy. Boeing was contracted to build 84 MH-139As at a cost of $2.38B. It is the command’s first commercial “off-the-shelf” purchase, adding military-unique modifications. Grey Wolf will replace the UH-1N, which entered the operational Air Force in 1970. The MH-139A Grey Wolf will provide vertical airlift and support the requirements of five major AF commands and operating agencies including the Air Education and Training Command. Gulf Coast regional commands under the AETC include Columbus and Keesler AFBs, Miss.; Eglin AFB, Fla.; and Maxwell AFB, Ala. (Source: American Military News 12/20/19) AFGSC's Detachment 7 was stood up Dec. 18 at Duke Field to support testing and evaluation of the MH-139A. Duke Field, located on the Eglin AFB Range, is home to the 919th Special Operations Wing. It is the only special operations wing in the Air Force Reserve, and a subordinate command of the 10th Air Force HQ’d at Naval Air Station/Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, and the Air Force Reserve Command, HQ’d at Robins AFB, Ga. https://americanmilitarynews.com/2019/12/photos-us-air-force-names-new-grey-wolf-helicopter-to-replace-vietnam-era-huey/