The U.S. Air Force has awarded Boeing a US$285 million investment to build the first 13 MH-139A Gray Wolf helicopters to replace the venerable Bell UH-1N Huey utility helicopter fleet that protects the U.S. ground-based nuclear ballistic missiles. I made a deal.
Entering service in 1970, the UH-1N Huey was originally designed as a versatile medium-duty military helicopter. Over the decades, we have served many missions and served countries around the world.
Today, its primary mission is search and rescue, in addition to conducting security patrols and providing transport to bases supporting the US ground-based ICBM arsenal and missile-laden silos.
The new contract replaces the Huey fleet with MH-139A Gray Wolves. The MH-139A Greywolf will be manufactured by Boeing as the primary contractor and Leonardo as the original equipment manufacturer, also providing a manufacturing facility in northeast Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Boeing
The Gray Wolf is based on Boeing’s commercial AW139 helicopter. By using off-the-shelf components and proven designs, Boeing hopes to reduce the helicopter’s manufacturing and operating costs, saving the Air Force $1 billion over the life of the fleet. Despite this penny pinch, Gray has 50% more range than Huey, can lift 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg) more payload, flies 50% faster, and has 30% more cabin space. can.
Inside is the Gray Wolf’s advanced flight deck, featuring state-of-the-art avionics for increased situational awareness and full autopilot capabilities to reduce crew workload. It also requires less maintenance, requiring only 1.3 hours of hangar work per flight hour.
Azeem Khan, Boeing MH-139 Program Director, said: “We are working hard to start shipping next year.”
Source: Boeing
