https://breakingdefense.com/2024/03/air-force-halves-mh-139-grey-wolf-helo-buy-in-fy25-budget-request/

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“It's just about the overall budget of the Air Force and what we're able to afford and what we're not able to afford,” explained Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter of the decision to cut the birds.

By   MICHAEL MARROWon March 12, 2024 at 5:42 PM

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WASHINGTON — The Air Force is moving to halve its planned procurement of the new MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter, according to the service’s fiscal year 2025 budget documents.

Budget books for the current fiscal year projected the service would buy a total of 74 MH-139As, which are made by Boeing in partnership with Italian defense firm Leonardo. Now, FY25 budget documents released by the service Monday evening say that the MH-139A’s program of record has plummeted to just 36 of the helos.

A replacement for the aging UH-1N Huey, the MH-139A is primarily tasked with patrolling American nuclear silos, but is also used to transport officials around the national capital region, as well as for other roles like civilian search and rescue. According to Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter, it’s aircraft for those secondary roles that will now largely be cut.