“This marks a significant step forward in ensuring the MH-139 is ready for full operational capability,” Lt. Col. Douglas Lincoln, Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center IOT&E test director, said in a release. “This was the first of 37 planned flight events, and our objective was to integrate the MH-139 into convoy security operations while testing communication networks between air and ground forces.”

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The MH-139 Grey Wolf brings enhanced speed, payload capacity and endurance, over the Vietnam-era UH-1N Huey, that it’s replacing, according to AFGSC. As Twentieth Air Force transitions to the MH-139, the increased capabilities will streamline nuclear security operations and improve response times for tactical response force teams.

“The MH-139 Grey Wolf fundamentally changes how we support nuclear security,” Col. Philip Bryant, 582nd Helicopter Group commander, said in a release. “It can carry twice as many security forces, fly 1.5 times as fast and has a considerably longer loiter time than the UH-1N, which greatly strengthens our mission to protect the missile fields.”

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After Sept. 11, 2001, Air Force Global Strike Command reassessed nuclear security and the Huey became more involved in missile field security.

The first MH-139 arrived at Malmstrom in March 2024 and during a ceremony for the new aircraft, Bryant said that Huey crews developed new methods to protect the ICBM fleet and in 2015, the 582nd was activated to provide a unified command for the three Huey units at the three ICBM bases. The 582nd is headquartered at F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming.

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During this first test event, the MH-139 flew alongside a 341st Missile Wing convoy, validating mission effectiveness and operational suitability, with the aircrew assessing the MH-139’s ability to insert and extract tactical response teams while maintaining seamless communication with ground forces.

Three testing flights were conducted the week of Jan. 27, according to AFGSC. One test evaluated the aircraft’s ability to support a convoy, assessing communication systems and general convoy support operations.

Grey Wolf completes another test [2023]

The other two tests focused on emergency response, specifically launch facility recapture and recovery by measuring response times from idle to airborne, according to AFGSC, using simulated threat scenarios with a “full tactical response force loadout and onboard weapons.”

Initial operational testing and evaluation for the Mh-139 is scheduled to continue through June 2025.

The 550th will be performing tests at all three ICBM wings, Malmstrom, F.E. Warren in Wyoming and Minot in North Dakota, and at multiple ranges to fully analyze the MH-139’s performance for all its operational missions.

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The 550th stood up in May 2023 at Malmstrom to support the crew transition from the current Huey and is in charge of training crews on the new Grey Wolf and eventually, everyone at the 40th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom will go through conversion training.

The 550th is a provisional unit with an expiration date, unit pilots told The Electric in March 2024, and once enough crews are trained, the 550th will standdown, the crews will go back to the 40th and they’ll solely fly the Grey Wolf for the nuclear security mission at Malmstrom.

Bryant said in a release that airmen “are adapting quickly to this new platform.”

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As testing progresses, the Air Force is maintaining the ICBM security mission and the Hueys are continuing operations until testing and training on the new helicopter is complete.

Initial operational testing and evaluation is Congressionally mandated to ensure an aircraft can perform its assigned missions and in this case, that it can assume the Huey’s mission without any lapse in capability, according to AFGSC.

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Once the testing and evaluation is complete, a report will be completed, at which point, assuming the MH-139 meets its requirements, AFGSC can formally assign the nuclear security mission to it and the Hueys will be retired from duty at Malmstrom, according to the Air Force.