Boeing kicks off MH-139A Grey Wolf production for US Air Force
The MH-139 Grey Wolf is the military variant of the Leonardo-manufactured AW139. (Photo: Boeing)
Deliveries of the first batch of MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters will begin next year.
Boeing announced on 7 March it will begin production of the first 13 MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopters following the award of a $285 million USAF contract.
Deliveries of the aircraft will begin in 2024.
The MH-139 team consists of Boeing as prime contractor, and Leonardo as an original equipment manufacturer.
Related Articles
MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter enters US Air Force developmental testing
Boeing joins Airbus team in bid for UK New Medium Helicopter
US Navy orders more TH-73A training helicopters
The aircraft is the military variant of the AW139. It was selected for the USAF’s $2.4 billion UH-1N Huey Replacement Program in September 2018.
Leonardo produces the helicopter at its plant in northeast Philadelphia, while Boeing is responsible for military equipment procurement and installation and post-delivery support of the aircraft.
The helicopter is designed to protect ICBM sites and transport US officials and security forces. It has an increased carrying capacity over the civil AW139 it is based on.
‘Advancing the programme from testing and evaluation to production is a major step toward entering the MH-139 into service and providing the US Air Force with additional missile security for decades,’ Azeem Khan, Boeing’s MH-139 programme director, noted in a statement.
‘We are working diligently to begin deliveries next year,’ he added.
Before the company joined the Airbus bid team, it was speculated that Boeing would put forward the MH-139 for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter competition, but the company has never confirmed this.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
MH-139 (UH-1N Huey Replacement)
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Portugal signs for sixth C-390 Millennium aircraft with 10 options for future European acquisition]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Portugal signs for sixth C-390 Millennium aircraft with 10 options for future European acquisition
Portugal was the second country to purchase the C-390 Millennium aircraft for its air force, originally signing for five aircraft in 2019. This order marks the first time an operator has signed an additional order for the C-390.
-
![Paris Air Show 2025: Lockheed says TR-3 upgrade “closing in” on completion]()
Paris Air Show 2025: Lockheed says TR-3 upgrade “closing in” on completion
The TR-3 configured F-35 aircraft have rolled off production lines since July 2024, but are still not yet combat capable and are still awaiting final sign-off for the software upgrade.
-
![Spanish Army’s VAMTAC drone acquisition progresses ongoing UAV investment]()
Spanish Army’s VAMTAC drone acquisition progresses ongoing UAV investment
Spain has made clear its intent to acquire a range of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), including those that will form part of its wider VAMTAC programme, announced in June 2025.
-
![Further funding allocated for Eurofighter Typhoon ECRS Mk2 radar programme]()
Further funding allocated for Eurofighter Typhoon ECRS Mk2 radar programme
The latest tranche of funding from the UK government comes ahead of the radar's integration into Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft from 2028.
-
![M-345 officially enters service as trainer for Italian Air Force]()
M-345 officially enters service as trainer for Italian Air Force
The Leonardo M-345 High-Efficiency Trainer (HET) basic/advanced trainer is similar to the M-346, which is the second part of the Italian Air Force’s training system, but is a substantially smaller and less powerful aircraft.
-
![Belgium’s F-35A order progresses at it awaits first jet delivery by late 2025]()
Belgium’s F-35A order progresses at it awaits first jet delivery by late 2025
The first aircraft delivery timeline confirmation comes as Belgium weighs up an additional F-3A buy from Lockheed Martin.
