The Division of the Air Power chosen Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, because the fourth location to host MH-139 Gray Wolves. The 25 new helicopters will exchange the bottom’s 21 growing old UH-1N Hueys. The extra 4 plane will permit the bottom to execute continuation of presidency operations and distinguished customer transport mission necessities with out augmenting assist models. Basing the brand new helicopters at JBA was primarily based on elements associated to mission, base capability, group assist, value and environmental concerns.

Along with offering up to date capabilities to assist missions within the Nationwide Capital Area, the Gray Wolf will enhance velocity, vary, endurance, payload and survivability in assist of the intercontinental ballistic missile mission, civil search and rescue, airlift and survival faculty/testing. The manpower required to assist this mission will develop from 235 personnel to roughly 310. DAF is predicted to finish the required environmental evaluation in summer season 2023 earlier than a last resolution is made.

Commercial

An MH-139A Gray Wolf, the Air Power’s latest helicopter, lifts off from the flightline for its first mixed take a look at flight at Eglin Air Power Base, Fla., Feb. 11, 2020. The Gray Wolf is about to exchange the Air Power’s growing old UH-1N Huey fleet. Joint Base Andrews, Md. was lately chosen because the fourth location to host the plane. (U.S. Air Power picture by Samuel King Jr.)

The MH-139A Gray Wolf is a militarised model of the AW139 industrial helicopter developed by Boeing and Leonardo to exchange the ageing UH-1N Huey fleet of the US Air Power. The US Air Power World Strike Command (AFGSC) acquired the primary MH-139A helicopter and named it “Gray Wolf” in December 2019. The MH-139A Gray Wolf will assist the intercontinental ballistic missile missions of the US protecting Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, and Nebraska whereas complementing the nation’s nuclear deterrence operations consistent with the Nationwide Defence Technique.

The MH-139A Gray Wolf is a dual-piloted, twin-engine helicopter built-in with survivability enhancement options in addition to army communication and navigation methods. The survivability enhancement options embrace cockpit and cabin armour, self-sealing crashworthy gasoline cells, AN/AAR-47 missile warning system and AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser set, a forward-looking infrared digital camera system and two externally-mounted M240 crew-served weapons. The principle rotor system is provided with 5 blades and a totally articulated fail-safe system, leading to excessive efficiency and low noise.