Boeing received an award for four additional MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters after the U.S. Air Force cleared the program for full-rate production (FRP) and Initial Operating Capability (IOC) earlier this year.
Why it matters: The first full-rate production award validates the U.S. Air Force’s confidence in the MH-139A’s readiness to deploy at scale, securing vital national assets across the country’s strategic missile fields.
“This milestone validates key readiness levels for Grey Wolf and supports the service’s fielding plans to secure vital national assets across the country’s strategic missile fields,” said Kathleen Jolivette, vice president and general manager, Vertical Lift Programs, for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. “Adding these aircraft to the production queue brings additional momentum to ongoing fielding and modernization efforts.”
Zoom in: Initial Operational Capability validates the training and support systems needed to deploy in real-world missions and establishes a baseline for reaching Full Operational Capability.
Catch up quick: To date, Boeing has delivered 27 aircraft, including 20 low-rate initial production assets.
The bottom line: Boeing continues to work closely with the U.S. Air Force to deliver adaptable, mission-ready and reliable capabilities for decades to come.
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By Clay Ham