The United States Air Force achieved a critical milestone in its nuclear modernization efforts on January 8, 2026, when two MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopters completed their first operational mission escorting a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) convoy at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana. This historic deployment marks a transformative shift in how the Air Force secures America’s land-based nuclear deterrent, replacing capabilities that have remained largely unchanged since the Vietnam War era.