Boeing to Build Four Additional MH-139A Helicopters for USAF

Boeing has secured a new production contract from the United States Air Force to build four additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters, further accelerating the service’s effort to modernise its rotary-wing fleet and strengthen homeland security operations. The latest award marks the second MH-139A production contract in just five months and brings the total number of aircraft under contract to 38.

Announced on 29 January 2026, the contract includes the production of the additional aircraft as well as associated sustainment support. It follows a $173 million award in September 2025 for eight helicopters, with the combined value of the two awards now exceeding $262 million. The rapid sequence of contracts underscores growing confidence in the programme and highlights the Air Force’s commitment to fielding the MH-139A as quickly as possible.

“The quick succession of contracts demonstrates that the U.S. Air Force is all in on bringing the MH-139A capability to the warfighter as quickly as possible,” said Azeem Khan, director of Boeing’s MH-139 programme. “Our team is dedicated to delivering and maintaining these aircraft, driven by a commitment to excellence, where safety and quality are our top priorities.”

The MH-139A Grey Wolf is intended primarily to replace the ageing UH-1N Huey fleet, which has been in service since the early 1970s. One of the aircraft’s most critical missions is the protection and patrol of intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) fields across the American Midwest. These operations include convoy escort, site security, personnel transport, and emergency response, missions that demand speed, reliability and modern avionics.

UH-1N Huey

To date, Boeing has delivered 21 MH-139A aircraft to the U.S. Air Force. This total includes 12 helicopters from the low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract awarded in 2023, with deliveries steadily increasing as the programme matures. The growing fleet is already contributing to improved readiness and operational flexibility compared to the legacy platforms it is replacing.

The Grey Wolf is based on Leonardo Helicopters’ widely proven AW139 commercial platform, which has accumulated millions of flight hours worldwide in military, government, and civilian service. Boeing integrates bespoke military equipment, mission systems, and survivability enhancements to transform the aircraft into a capable and resilient military asset tailored to Air Force requirements.

Leonardo Helicopters AW139

Key enhancements include secure communications, advanced navigation systems, ballistic protection and the ability to operate in challenging weather and night conditions. With greater speed, range, payload and reliability than the UH-1N, the MH-139A offers a significant leap forward in capability while reducing maintenance burden and life-cycle costs.

Beyond its operational impact, the MH-139A programme continues to generate substantial economic benefits. The collaboration between Boeing and Leonardo supports more than a thousand jobs across the United States, with a major concentration in the Philadelphia region, where final integration and support activities are conducted. The programme also sustains a broad network of suppliers, reinforcing the domestic aerospace industrial base.

For the U.S. Air Force, the MH-139A represents more than a straightforward helicopter replacement. It is a key component of a broader modernisation effort aimed at ensuring mission assurance for strategic assets while improving safety and efficiency for aircrews. As additional aircraft are delivered and operational units transition fully to the new platform, the Grey Wolf is expected to become a familiar sight across missile fields and Air Force installations nationwide.

With 38 aircraft now under contract and further production decisions likely in the coming years, the MH-139A programme appears firmly on track. For Boeing, the latest award reinforces its role as a critical partner in U.S. defence aviation, while for the Air Force, it brings the service one step closer to retiring a decades-old fleet and fielding a modern, highly capable helicopter designed for the demands of 21st-century operations.