After the initial IOT&E testing, the MH-139A Grey Wolf took part for the first time in the exercise focused on the safe and secure transport of nuclear weapons and materials.
The U.S. Air Force’s new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter recently participated for the first time in the Nuclear Convoy Course (NCC), a crucial weeklong exercise which is part of the annual training conducted to ensure the safe and secure transport of nuclear weapons and materials. Boeing and the 90th Missile Wing, the latter stationed at F.E. Warren AFB in Wyoming, announced the event on May 21, 2025.
Held at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center in Wyoming, the exercise was held from Mar. 30 to Apr. 18, 2025, and saw the participation of Convoy Response Forces (CRF) from the 90th, 91st, and 341st Missile Security Operations Squadrons, which are stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming; Minot AFB, North Dakota; and Malmstrom AFB, Montana, respectively.
See the @USAirForce‘s newest helicopter in its element. 🐺
The #MH139 Grey Wolf recently completed its first Nuclear Convoy Course, demonstrating rapid response and monitoring capabilities in a simulated threat environment.
More: https://t.co/3gT0Q6RxD9
📸: U.S. Air Force… pic.twitter.com/lqr3UgML19
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) May 21, 2025
The press release quoted Air Force Global Strike Command’s (AFGSC) Operations and Plans Directorate (A3SO) training and force development manager Master Sgt. Kevin Brown, who said the NCC validated new systems like the MH-139A Grey Wolf and the Payload Transporter replacement vehicle (PTR), which provide “security and safe transport for ICBMs off installation as part of the modernization of nuclear systems as outlined by General Bussiere’s strategic vision.”
Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, chief of the AFGSC, previously mentioned the Grey Wolf among several nuclear modernization efforts before the Senate Armed Services Committee on May 20, 2025. Other efforts mentioned include the development of the LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) and the B-21 Raider stealth strategic bomber.
The MH-139A participated in its first Nuclear Convoy Course (NCC). A weeklong exercise in Wyoming to ensure the safe and secure transport of nuclear weapons and materials. 😎
📷 Staff Sgt. Michael A. Richmond
PS. I still can’t believe the USAF bought Italian helicopters for… pic.twitter.com/FkH25eC2Yq
— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) May 22, 2025
Drill components
The MH-139A Grey Wolf is a variant of the AW139M, itself the militarized version of Leonardo’s AW139 commercial helicopter. Leonardo first produces the base helicopter at its facility in northeast Philadelphia, and Boeing then modifies and outfits the aircraft with the necessary military equipment.
The 550th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom AFB received the first production Grey Wolf on Aug. 5, 2024, as a part of a $285 million Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) order of 13 helicopters approved in 2023. Its primary task is to support the U.S.’ nuclear security mission, which includes patrolling its nuclear bases and underground launch silos hosting the Minuteman III ICBM, and the LGM-35 Sentinel ICBM, once it becomes operational.
“Tactics, Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) have been developed over the last couple of years leading up to these new assets becoming operational and must be trained and validated prior to them rolling out,” said Brown. “NCC is the avenue for such training as the new assets are in one location, and all new training tasks can be streamlined and standardized across all three missile wings.”
The drill saw mock combat between F.E. Warren, Minot and Malmstrom AFB’s CRF teams, acting as defenders, and the U.S Army’s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), acting as the opposing forces. Their role was to challenge the capabilities of the CRF teams to make the training more realistic.
“Fighting as OPFOR (opposing force) for this training event has greatly enhanced our own capabilities,” said 1st Lt. Luke Davey, scout platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). “It has given us a great understanding of militia and paramilitary ambushes and how small elements can fight off larger enemies. As a reconnaissance platoon, this is particularly beneficial for us because it’s enhanced our understanding of obstacle emplacement, sniper engagements and priorities, non-woodland camouflage, and maximizing firepower as a smaller element — all of which are pivotal to our role as small reconnaissance teams.”
The primary goal of the exercise was “to help Missile Security Operations Squadrons identify gaps in their defenses, make adjustments, and return home stronger and more prepared.” Using Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, MSOS teams trained “C-UAS, mounted operations, heavy weapons, helicopter integration” while “operating in low-visibility conditions and secure high-value assets in realistic, high-pressure environments.” MSOS units from all three missile wings are now looking forward to the third annual Advanced Recapture Recovery Operational Warfighter (ARROW).
Enhancing ground security while reinforcing joint air-to-ground coordination. Check out some of the action that took place during the Nuclear Convoy Course at Camp Guernsey Joint Training Center’s South Training Area, Wyo. pic.twitter.com/wtg8L2zqLs
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) April 21, 2025
Recent IOT&E exercises
The MH-139A Grey Wolf was put through an Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) for a week from Jan. 28, 2025 at Malmstrom AFB in Montana, one of the bases which hosts Minuteman silos. Geared towards eventually replacing the older UH-1N Hueys in this role, thee testing involved two Hueys from the 40th Helicopter Squadron (40th HS) and two MH-139A Grey Wolfs from the 550th HS assessing its “operational effectiveness, suitability and survivability in a realistic and operational environment.” The “rigorous testing and evaluation process” saw the “helicopters responding to a simulated threat with a full tactical response force loadout and onboard weapons.”
The helicopters, in fact, carried a team of five fully-armed TRF (Tactical Response Force) airmen, to test the helicopter’s ability to “insert and extract tactical response force Airmen, while maintaining effective communication between the air and ground forces.” The TRF teams were also “separately evaluated on their performance by Defenders from the weapons and tactics department.” Both the MH-139s were also carrying two M240 7.62 mm belt-fed machine guns on the crew’s windows.
This was followed by another IOT&E exercise on Feb. 21, 2025, when a Grey Wolf from the 550th HS at Malmstrom AFB, “executed multiple flyovers during the exercise before landing at a secure distance to deploy 341st Missile Security Operations Squadron’s TRF Airmen.” The TRF Airmen were also “evaluated on their response to a simulated enemy attack” with the assistance of a Grey Wolf. To enhance their emergency response tactics, the TRF Airmen responded to a “simulated emergency notification from a nuclear launch facility,” eventually “neutralizing a threat and regaining control of the area.”
Flying training continues
The 908th Flying Training Wing at Maxwell AFB in Alabama meanwhile continues its training sorties with the Grey Wolf, as shown by the photos of a “local familiarization and proficiency sortie” taking place on Apr. 22, 2025. A Grey Wolf from the 908th Operation Group under the 908th FTW was photographed in a drill where crew members performed “visual terrain and obstacle clearance checks to ensure the landing zone is clear of hazards like trees, wires, uneven ground, or personnel.”
“This provides real-time guidance to the pilots, helping maintain situational awareness and ensuring a safe, precise landing – especially in unimproved or tactical environments,” said the caption accompanying the images. Maxwell AFB also witnessed an MH-139A Grey Wolf from the 908th FTW accomplishing the type’s first ever training exercise on Sep. 7, 2024, in a “guest participation” of the 908th Operations Support Squadron’s Ready Airman Training Exercise. The 908th FTW has been transitioning from the C-130 to becoming a formal training unit for the MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter for nearly four years.
