Have You Seen the New Hardware Flying the Sky in Great Falls?

I can't remember when I first noticed it, but there is some new, fancy hardware flying the skies over Great Falls and Central Montana lately.  The distinct sound of the "whoppity-whoppity" has been replaced in Big Sky Country.

via GIPHY

The United States Air Force and Malmstrom Air Force Base recently conducted a security mission featuring an all-new helicopter.   This first operational convoy marks "an important milestone in the modernization of Air Force Global Strike Command’s nuclear security operations".

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Have You Seen the New Hardware Flying the Sky in Great Falls?

The new helicopter, the MH-139 Grey Wolf, debuted on January 8th, 2026, to help escort Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) from Malmstrom Air Force Base.  The new helicopters will replace the UH-1N Huey after more than five decades of service and prepares to retire them completely.

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According to the Air Force Strategic Command, the choppers are well suited for Montana:

The MH-139 allows us to continue supporting our ICBM enterprise for decades to come with increased speed, range and lift. - Maj. Gen. Stacy Huser, 20th Air Force commander

All three of those combine to offer better protection:

Speed and reach are demanded specifically due to the more than 100 launch facilities dispersed across Malmstrom’s 13,800-square-mile area of responsibility that spans diverse topography of prairies, plains and mountain ranges.

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As for just how much faster the new Grey Wolf helicopter is compared to the old Huey?

Not only is the MH-139 Grey Wolf approximately 50% faster than the Huey and can arrive on-site several minutes sooner – armed and with twice as many troops on board – it also has enhanced defensive systems and is built to support missile field security missions across vast and austere terrain.

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In the first operational use of the new helicopter, Maj. Nicholas Smith, 40 HS MH-139 pilot stated about the mission that "The performance of the helicopter was impressive, and this test proved that the Grey Wolf can bring all the required firepower necessary to defend our nation’s nuclear force in a real scenario".

The pilot also lauded the new infrared systems of the machine, saying the "improved Forward Looking Infrared and its avionics systems enhanced his crew’s situational awareness and their ability to support the ground force commander.  The MH-139 integrated seamlessly and provided an immediate increase in helicopter support capabilities".

Overall, the new helicopter has been a welcomed addition to the firepower at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls.  But some still yearn for the old.  Tech. Sgt. Samuel Earney, 341st Missile Security Operations Squadron Tactical Response Force flight sergeant said that "The transition from the battle-tested Huey to the high-tech Grey Wolf has been bittersweet, but given the increased capabilities of the new helicopter, it makes sense as to why the Air Force chose to make the move".