Two MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters conducted their first operational Minuteman III ICBM convoy security mission to and from a launch facility over 100 miles away from Malmstrom AFB.
The U.S. Air Force has announced that the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter is now being employed operationally by the Air Force Global Strike Command for nuclear security operations. On Jan. 8, 2026, two MH-139s conducted their first operational Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) convoy security mission.
Convoy Security Mission
The helicopters, assigned to the 40th Helicopter Squadron, escorted a column of missile maintenance and armored security vehicles to and from a launch facility located more than 100 miles east of Malmstrom AFB, Montana. According to the service, the movement lasted six hours but did not require the MH-139s to be refueled, “demonstrating the superior capabilities of AFGSC’s newest helicopter.”
“Executing our first convoy mission with two MH-139s marks a significant step forward in strengthening our missile security operations,” said Maj. Gen. Stacy Huser, 20th Air Force commander. “The MH-139 allows us to continue supporting our ICBM enterprise for decades to come with increased speed, range and lift.”
The crews were impressed by the helicopter’s capabilities in the new role. According to the press release, the new Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and avionics systems enhanced the crew’s situational awareness and their ability to support the ground force commander.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Teniya Caldwell)
“The performance of the helicopter was impressive,” said Maj. Nicholas Smith, 40 HS MH-139 pilot. “This test proved that the Grey Wolf can bring all the required firepower necessary to defend our nation’s nuclear force in a real scenario. The MH-139 integrated seamlessly and provided an immediate increase in helicopter support capabilities.”
The Transition
The Air Force has been working on the introduction of the new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter in the last few years, following the first delivery for testing in December 2019. The new platform is meant to replace the UH-1N Huey, which is about to be retired after more than five decades of service.
“The transition from the UH-1N Huey to the MH-139A Grey Wolf is one of the first visible steps toward the next era of the Global Strike mission, eventually leading to the full mission integration with Sentinel,” said Tech. Sgt. Samuel Earney, 341st Missile Security Operations Squadron Tactical Response Force flight sergeant. “The transition from the battle-tested Huey to the high-tech Grey Wolf has been bittersweet, but given the increased capabilities of the new helicopter, it makes sense as to why the Air Force chose to make the move.”
Among the improvements that the new helicopter brings are speed and reach. The service notes that these are required specifically due to the more than 100 launch facilities dispersed across Malmstrom’s 13,800-square-mile area of responsibility that spans diverse topography of prairies, plains and mountain ranges.
For a comparison, the service says the Grey Wolf is approximately 50% faster than the Huey and can transport twice as many troops. In addition to being armed, the new helicopter also has enhanced defensive systems and is built to support missile field security missions across vast and austere terrain.
“Our ICBM mission is the foundation of strategic deterrence, and it demands absolute reliability, security, and readiness,” said Col. Daniel Voorhies, 341st Missile Wing commander. “The MH-139 strengthens nuclear surety by giving our Airmen a more capable platform to protect our forces as they carry out the nation’s most imperative mission, 24/7/365.”
The press release highlighted that the recent convoy escort mission gained valuable operational experience for AFGSC as 20 AF progresses toward initial operational capability (IOC) of its Grey Wolf fleet. The recent mission also follows the type’s first participation in the Nuclear Convoy Course (NCC) and the first Initial Operational Test & Evaluation flight in support of nuclear security operations in 2025.
“I am incredibly proud of our Airmen who made this success possible,” said Col. Bryant Bevan, 582nd Helicopter Group commander. “This mission provided us a multitude of lessons learned, which we will utilize as we continue to work toward accomplishing IOC for the MH-139.”
The MH-139 Grey Wolf
The MH-139A Grey Wolf is a multi-mission helicopter based on Leonardo’s proven AW139 helicopter, designed to protect intercontinental ballistic missiles and transport U.S. government officials and security forces. The MH-139A team consists of Boeing, as the prime contractor, and Leonardo as an original equipment manufacturer. 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.
Boeing and Leonardo say that the MH-139A’s enhanced capabilities allow it to accomplish missions more quickly, quietly and efficiently, with a 50 percent increase in speed and range, a 30% larger cabin and an increase of 5,000 pounds max gross weight. The Air Force said previously that the performance of the aircraft shows great potential for improving on the myriad of missions that have been covered by the venerable Huey.
The Boeing-Leonardo Team was awarded the initial $2.4 billion contract in September 2018 for 84 helicopters, training systems and associated support equipment. In August of 2022, the U.S. Air Force accepted the first four helicopters, with the deliveries of the six RDT&E MH-139s completed in 2023.
Following the delivery of the first four helicopters, the MH-139 finally entered developmental testing, after experiencing unexpected delays because of the integration of defensive systems, an airspeed sensor and the FAA certification. While the commercial AW-139 is already certified by the FAA, the MH-139 conversion needed FAA-approved Supplemental Type Certifications (STCs) for military-specific equipment.
The Air Force reached the Milestone C decision for the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter in early 2023, awarding Boeing a $285 million contract to begin the Low-Rate Initial Production of 13 helicopters, together with sustainment and support services. The first helicopter is already being flight tested, while others are in various stages of the assembly process.
The MH-139A, after being temporally based at Duke Field, Florida, where Detachment 7 has been established to support testing and evaluation, are now being delivered to operational units. The first location to receive the new helicopter was Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, where the first MH-139 was welcomed during a ceremony on March 9, 2024.
Less than a month later, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, also received its first MH-139. The helicopter is assigned to the 908th Airlift Wing, which was divested from the tactical airlift mission in 2022 in order to become the U.S. Air Force’s formal training unit for Grey Wolf aircrew.
In January 2025, the Air Force launched the Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) to assess the MH-139’s operational effectiveness, suitability and survivability in a realistic and operational environment at Malmstrom AFB. Both convoy support and emergency response scenarios were included, with the helicopters responding to a simulated threat with a full tactical response force loadout and onboard weapons.
Few months later, between March and April 2025, the Grey Wolf participated for the first time in the Nuclear Convoy Course (NCC), a crucial weeklong exercise which is part of the annual training conducted to ensure the safe and secure transport of nuclear weapons and materials. This edition of the NCC allowed to validate the MH-139 during realistic scenarios with opposing forces provided by the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne Division.
