Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
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WASHINGTON – At a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing on President Biden’s proposed budget for the Air Force this week, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) pressed Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Brown on why the budget proposal cuts funding for replacement helicopters needed at Minot Air Force Base.
“I have some concerns about the cuts in [Fiscal Year] 2022 funding for the MH-139 [Grey Wolf helicopter]. It’s slated to replace our very aging UH-1 helicopters at Minot,” said Senator Cramer. “I don’t know if you’ve ever flown on a UH-1 in Minot in the winter, but it’s very unpleasant.”
“What we want to do is ensure we align our money with the delivery. The delivery is only being delayed a couple months,” replied General Brown. “We want to keep our focus on it, because as you said, flying a UH-1 in Minot in winter is probably not what we want to continue to do, which is why we want to get the MH-139 on track.”
The UH-1 helicopter, nicknamed the “Huey,” was first developed in 1952 and was used widely throughout the Vietnam war. These helicopters are used at Minot to provide combat air power in defense of the 91st Missile Wing’s airmen and assets in the 8,500 square mile missile complex, which includes the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile.