Air Force Puts an AW139 Derivative on Nuclear-Security Duty

The U.S. Air Force has declared the MH-139 Grey Wolf operational, the helicopter now assigned to guard the nation's nuclear missile fields. It is built on the Leonardo AW139 airframe, the same twin-engine helicopter familiar to owners and operators in the private and corporate fleet. In its new role, the Grey Wolf replaces the UH-1N Huey on nuclear-security missions. For AW139 owners, it is a notable data point on the airframe's range: a helicopter common on private helipads now also flying one of the most sensitive assignments in American defense.

With reporting from AVweb.