MH-139A gunner challenge: Cold

The Air Force has begun testing and evaluating its new MH-139A Grey Wolf utility helicopters, and has found it has a big challenge. How do ensure door gunners can adequately operate their M240 machine guns while exposed to very cold weather. The bulk of the MH-139As are set to replace UH-1N Twin Huey helicopters protecting intercontinental ballistic missile silos, many of which are situated in areas such as Minot (ND) AFB, sites across Nebraska and Wyoming, or the 341st Missile Wing's silos in Montana where temperatures can drop well below freezing in winter. U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a retired AF Brigadier General, raised the issue at a hearing March 10. The Leonardo AW-139 derivative is being built in the U.S. The first Grey Wolf arrived at Duke Field, Fla., last month to begin the operational test and evaluation process. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), which oversees the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force and will be the primary recipient of the helos, is leading the effort at Duke Field. AFGSC Det. 7 stood up at Duke to handle these activities last year. The AF has to “have the capability to go to an ICBM site in case there's a force protection issue, so you have a door gunner," Bacon said. That's "alright in the summer, but in the winter up there as you know it’s like minus 30 (degrees) and what I'm hearing is it's so cold that they can't operate the guns." The standard configuration of the MH-139A includes two 7.62mm M240 machine guns, one on each side of the helicopter. Though commonly referred to as door guns, they are mounted in windows on the side of the fuselage between the cockpit and main cabin doors. In order to fire the guns, a door gunner would have to be standing in front of an open window, fully exposed to the weather outside. "At minus 30, it is hard to operate a machine gun with an open door," Bacon added. "We're aware of the weather conditions in Minot," Will Roper, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Rep. Bacon. "Cold weather (is a) primary challenge that has to be overcome," Roper added. "We're working a variety of options, environmental options, clothing options, to try to mitigate that risk." (Source: The Drive 03/11/20) https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32548/door-gunners-on-the-air-forces-new-grey-wolf-helicopters-need-protection-from-sub-zero-temps