Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, is slated to swap its iconic Vietnam Battle-era helicopters for a contemporary fleet of MH-139 Gray Wolf rotary aircrft within the coming years, the Air Pressure introduced Tuesday.
Andrews expects to herald 25 new helicopters, constructed by a Boeing-Leonardo group, to exchange its 21 UH-1N Hueys below the first Helicopter Squadron. The 4 additional helos would enhance the bottom’s capability to assist VIP transport missions, and to assist guarantee continuity of presidency by shuttling officers round in an emergency.
The Air Pressure-run joint set up plans to herald about 75 extra workers to employees the MH-139 fleet. Andrews is more likely to cross its environmental inspection subsequent summer season, a requirement earlier than the Air Pressure can finalize its resolution.
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Andrews, a Washington-area navy journey hub for U.S. presidents and different federal leaders, is certainly one of 4 bases named as future houses of Gray Wolf helicopters to date. The MH-139 was primarily bought to patrol intercontinental ballistic missile fields at Minot Air Pressure Base, North Dakota; F.E. Warren AFB, Wyoming; and Malmstrom AFB, Montana.
About 60 Hueys are unfold throughout lively responsibility items at Fairchild AFB, Washington; Eglin AFB, Florida; Kirtland AFB, New Mexico; and Yokota Air Base, Japan. They’ve been within the Air Pressure stock since 1970, after they arrived as a search-and-rescue helicopter and took on different roles like nuclear missile assist. Their successor is designed to fly sooner and farther than the older helos, carry heavier masses and higher face up to assault.
Airmen at Eglin acquired the primary helicopter for testing in late 2019, and the Air Pressure named Kirtland as the principle coaching unit in 2020.
In whole, the Air Pressure plans to purchase 82 Gray Wolves for $3 billion.
Rachel Cohen joined Air Pressure Instances as senior reporter in March 2021. Her work has appeared in Air Pressure Journal, Inside Protection, Inside Well being Coverage, the Frederick News-Publish (Md.), the Washington Publish, and others.
