Boeing secures first full rate production order for Grey Wolf helicopters

Boeing has secured the first full rate production contract for the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter. The U.S. Air Force ordered four aircraft in an award valued at approximately $85 million, which includes certain sustainment work. This order brings the total number of contracted Grey Wolf helicopters to 42, with 27 units already delivered.

The Grey Wolf, a militarized version of Leonardo’s AW139, is designed to replace the UH-1N Huey in the intercontinental ballistic missile security mission across three Air Force bases. Boeing expects to deliver the four new aircraft in 2028 or 2029.

Financial analysis of the program shows varying unit costs depending on the metric used. While the recent $85 million order averages roughly $21.25 million per helicopter before sustainment, the Air Force’s FY2027 budget lists a gross weapon-system unit cost of $63.237 million per aircraft when accounting for training, support equipment, and fielding costs. The total program acquisition cost is estimated by the GAO at $2.932 billion for 56 units.