Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey(BG)

Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey

The first CV-22 was delivered to the USAF in October 2005.

On March 13th 2008 Bell-Boeing delivered the 100th V-22 Osprey. This was the 92nd MV-22(166723) delivered to the US Marines.

On December 9th 2008 the US DoD announced that Bell-Boeing had been awarded a $55 million contract to convert nine MV-22s from Block A to Block B configuration. The work is expected to be completed in May 2009.

The V-22 achieved 100,000 flight hours milestone in March 2011.

On December 29th 2011 the DoD announced that Bell-Boeing had been awarded a $72.9m contract for long-lead items for twenty-one Lot 17 aircraft (17 MV-22, 4 CV-22).

PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Feb. 14, 2012 -- The Bell Boeing V-22 Program, a strategic alliance between The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Bell Helicopter - Textron [NYSE: TXT], today announced that the U.S. Marine Corps has taken delivery of the first MV-22 Osprey produced with the new Block C suite of design upgrades.

"The on-time, on-budget delivery of our first Block C aircraft is the latest milestone in our ongoing quest to make the world’s most revolutionary aircraft even more advanced," said John Rader, executive director of the Bell Boeing V-22 Program. "Block C Ospreys will meet our current customers' enduring need for the latest mission capabilities, while presenting an even more compelling value proposition to future domestic and international customers."

The V-22 Block C design upgrade includes a new weather radar system that improves navigation in poor weather conditions, and a redesigned Environmental Conditioning System to enhance aircrew and troop comfort. Expanded capacity and effectiveness built into the Electronic Warfare system -- including additional chaff/flare dispensers -- increases the Osprey’s ability to defeat air-to-air and ground-to-air threats. The Block C also provides greater situational awareness with enhanced cockpit and cabin displays.

On June 21st 2012 the USAF placed a $74m order for a CV-22 to replace the one that crashed  nr Qalat, Afghanistan in 09 Apr 2010 (06-0031 D1012  CV-22B 8th SOS / ISAF) replace (11-0055 D1042 CV-22 8th SOS)

To date(Jun 17, 2013), 214 MV-22s have been delivered to the Marine Corps.

“That means Israel will get six V-22s out of the next order to go on the assembly line.” Oct 31, 2013

In 2014 the V22 Osprey passed 250,000 hours of flight time in service.

In 2014 has seen the 300th V22 delivered (between the USMC and USAF).

MV-22: US$72.1 million (flyaway cost for FY2015)

Internationally Japan is now first in line to receive the V22 for their military, with 5 aircraft slated for delivery in 2018, pending a LOI that is expected in April, approximately at the start of the Japanese budget year.

On May 13 at Naval Air Warfare Center Patuxent River, Maryland, the first Block C modified MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft successfully completed its first test flight.  The event signified the most important in a series of recent achievements in the Bell Boeing V-22 program's progress towards bringing the mission enhancements of the Block C suite to the U.S Marine Corps (USMC) MV-22 and U.S. Air Force Special Operations CV-22 Osprey aircraft.  

"This first flight milestone represents a significant step in improving our customers' capabilities for future missions," said John Thatcher, V-22 Block C Chief Engineer.  "Block C production deliveries are right around the corner and this first flight demonstrates a significant reduction in our production risk," he said.

According to Don Byrne, Boeing V-22 Flight Test Team, May's first flight test lasted just over one hour and consisted of successful ground testing for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), flight testing for Functional Check Flight (FCF) to verify proper aircraft systems operation after the modification period, and initial shakedown flight testing of the new Joint Application System Software (JASS).

Following the initial flight tests, the modified Osprey paid a June visit the McKinley Climatic Test Chamber at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida to conduct performance testing of the new upgraded Block C Environmental Control System (ECS).

"The performance of the new ECS was evaluated at temperature extremes ranging from +125° F down to -61° F, and the engineers were very pleased with the results," said Mark Hollady, V-22 Lead Flight Test Engineer, who led a team comprised of Boeing, Bell, Military, Government and DynCorp personnel in conducting the climate tests.

The flight test period will continue through November, 2010.  Production of new-build Block C aircraft began in April 2010 in Philadelphia, with first delivery to the Air Force targeted for December 2011 and USMC scheduled for January 2012

The MV-22 Block C upgrade incorporates weather radar for MV-22 only, an improved environmental control system for CV-22 and MV-22 variants, troop commander situational awareness display for MV-22, upgraded standby flight instrument and GPS repeater for MV and CV, and additional chaff/flare equipment into the MV-22 aircraft. Block C development first began in 2006 and subsequently, in November 2009, Bell Boeing was awarded a $105 million Block C production contract modification to produce 91 MV-22 and 21 CV-22 Ospreys in the configuration. 

At press time Bell Boeing is in the process of submitting a proposal in response to an Air Force Request for Proposal (RFP) to retrofit the CV-22 aircraft with the Block C design. 

PATUXENT RIVER, Md., Feb. 14, 2012 -- The Bell Boeing V-22 Program, a strategic alliance between The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and Bell Helicopter - Textron [NYSE: TXT], today announced that the U.S. Marine Corps has taken delivery of the first MV-22 Osprey produced with the new Block C suite of design upgrades.

"The on-time, on-budget delivery of our first Block C aircraft is the latest milestone in our ongoing quest to make the world’s most revolutionary aircraft even more advanced," said John Rader, executive director of the Bell Boeing V-22 Program. "Block C Ospreys will meet our current customers' enduring need for the latest mission capabilities, while presenting an even more compelling value proposition to future domestic and international customers."

The V-22 Block C design upgrade includes a new weather radar system that improves navigation in poor weather conditions, and a redesigned Environmental Conditioning System to enhance aircrew and troop comfort. Expanded capacity and effectiveness built into the Electronic Warfare system -- including additional chaff/flare dispensers -- increases the Osprey’s ability to defeat air-to-air and ground-to-air threats. The Block C also provides greater situational awareness with enhanced cockpit and cabin displays.

“We continue to increase the capabilities of this first-of-type tiltrotor, and Block C is the latest, evolutionary step,” said Marine Corps Col. Greg Masiello, Joint V-22 Program Manager, Naval Air Systems Command. “Whether it's the addition of weather radar, upgrades to the environmental control system, or improvements for situational awareness, Block C brings enhanced capability to V-22 pilots, maintainers, and crew members throughout the aircraft’s life cycle."

About the V-22 Osprey Program:

The V-22 Osprey is a joint service, multirole combat aircraft that uses tiltrotor technology to combine the vertical performance of a helicopter with the speed and range of a fixed-wing aircraft. With its nacelles and rotors in vertical position, it can take off, land and hover like a helicopter. Once airborne, its nacelles can be rotated to transition the aircraft to a turboprop airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.

More than 160 Osprey tiltrotors are currently in operation and the worldwide fleet has amassed more than 130,000 flight hours, with nearly half of those hours logged in the past two years.

Safety, survivability and mission efficiency have become hallmarks of the operational fleet. According to Naval Safety Center records, the MV-22 has the lowest Class A mishap rate of any tactical rotorcraft in the Marine Corps during the past decade. Navy flight-hour cost data also show that the Osprey has the lowest cost per seat-mile (cost to transport one person over a distance of one mile) of any U.S. naval transport rotorcraft over the past two years.

About Bell Boeing:

Bell Helicopter, a wholly owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is an industry-leading producer of commercial and military, manned and unmanned vertical lift aircraft and the pioneer of the revolutionary tiltrotor aircraft. Globally recognized for world-class customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce serves customers flying Bell aircraft in more than 120 countries. Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft Company, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Greenlee, Textron Systems and Textron Financial Corporation. More information is available at www.textron.com.

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 63,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

• United States Air Force

  • 7th Special Operations Squadron  RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom

  • 8th Special Operations Squadron Hurlburt Field, Florida

  • 20th Special Operations Squadron Cannon AFB

  • 71st Special Operations Squadron Kirtland AFB, New Mexico

  • 418th Flight Test Squadron Edwards AFB, California.

  • march 16, 2016 50 CV-22

• United States Marine Corps

  • Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204(VMMT-204) "Raptors" MCAS New River, North Carolina 28 MV-22
  • Marine Helicopter Squadron 1(HMX-1) "The Nighthawks" MC Air Facility Quantico, Virginia                       12 MV-22
  • Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 22(VMX-22)"Argonauts" MCAS New River, North Car.     MV-22
  • Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 21 (HX-21) "Blackjack" NAS Patuxent River, Maryland                               MV-22
    
    
  • Operations Squadron 17
    
  • VMM-161 "Greyhawks"        MCAS Miramar, California               12 MV-22  In December 2009
  • VMM-162 "Golden Eagles"   MCAS New River, North Carolina    12 MV-22  on December 9, 2005
  • VMM-163 "Ridge Runners"   MCAS Miramar, California               12 MV-22
  • VMM-164 "Knightriders"       MCAS Camp Pendleton, California 12 MV-22  on April 9, 2015
  • VMM-165 "White Knights"    MCAS Miramar, California               12 MV-22  on March 1, 2011
  • VMM-166 "SeaElk"                MCAS Miramar, California               12 MV-22 on June 23, 2010
  • VMM-261 "Raging Bulls"       MCAS New River, North Carolina    12 MV-22  on April 10, 2008
  • VMM-262 "Flying Tigers"      MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan    12 MV-22  On 30 September 2013
  • VMM-263 "Thunder Eagles"  MCAS New River, North Carolina    12 MV-22 on June 3, 2005,
  • VMM-264 "Black Knights"     MCAS New River, North Carolina    12 MV-22 in April 2009
  • VMM-265  "Dragons"           MCAS Futenma, Okinawa, Japan    12 MV-22
  • VMM-266  "Fighting Griffins" MCAS New River, North Carolina    12 MV-22
  • VMM-268  "Red Dragons"     MCAS Miramar, California               12 MV-22
  • VMM-363  "Lucky Red Lions" MCAS Miramar, California              12 MV-22  10 May`12 at MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii
  • VMM-364 "Purple Foxes"      MCAS Camp Pendleton, California  12 MV-22 On October 9, 2014
  • VMM-365 "Blue Knights"       MCAS New River, North Carolina    12 MV-22 on Jan. 15, 2009/On 27 April 2013 to Moron
    
  • VMM-764 "Moonlight"           MCAS Miramar, California               12 MV-22
  • VMM-

MADRID — The Spanish government has approved an accord permanently granting the U.S. military a presence at a southwestern base as a center for a rapid reaction force to deal with crises in Africa.

The deal approved by Spain's Cabinet on Friday allows for the U.S. to station up to 3,000 troops at Morón Air Base, up from a current 850. The number of aircraft at the base can be increased from 14 to 40.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is to visit Madrid on Sunday and Monday to sign the agreement.

Under a 1988 bilateral agreement, accords permitting U.S. presence at the base have been renewed annually. The new agreement needs to be approved by Spain's Parliament.

May. 08, 2015

WASHINGTON

Japan’s plan to buy V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft built by Boeing Co and Textron Inc’s Bell Helicopter unit moved forward this week with a formal notification to the U.S. Congress about the $3 billion deal.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which oversees foreign arms sales, notified lawmakers that the State Department has approved Japan’s plan to buy 17 V-22 aircraft, or Ospreys, 40 engines built by Britain’s Rolls Royce Holdings Plc and associated equipment.

The Bell-Boeing team said it would continue to work with the U.S. government to facilitate the sale, but referred questions about the timing of the deal to the U.S. Navy.

The DSCA said the proposed sale would help Japan modernize its transport fleet and enhance its ability to carry out humanitarian and disaster relief missions, and support amphibious operations.

U.S. lawmakers have 30 days to block the sale although no such action is expected in this case.

• Agreement enhances Japan’s defensive and humanitarian operations
• Marks first international sale for V-22

PATUXENT RIVER, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bell Boeing, a strategic alliance between Bell Helicopter, a Textron [NYSE: TXT] company, and Boeing [NYSE: BA], was awarded a U.S. Navy contract today for five Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to be delivered to Japan, marking the first sale of the aircraft through the U.S. government’s foreign military sales program.

The contract for the Block C aircraft includes support, training, and equipment. The versatile V-22 tiltrotor will allow Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force greatly enhanced capabilities, while providing an ideal platform for relief efforts in response to natural disasters.

“The Bell Boeing team is honored to have Japan as the first international customer for the V-22 tiltrotor,” said Mitch Snyder, executive vice president of Military Business for Bell Helicopter. “The distinct performance envelope of the V-22 will provide Japan with an ideal solution when the need arises. When assets are required on-target in a location without an airstrip, the self-deployable Osprey provides customers with an unrivaled combination of speed, range, and payload to execute a variety of missions.”

The V-22 is currently in service with the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force Special Operations Command. This year, the United States Navy announced their decision to procure 44 V-22 aircraft.

“This is an important day for the Bell Boeing team in Japan and for the U.S.-Japan Alliance,” said Shelley Lavender, president of Boeing Military Aircraft. “The V-22 redefines what’s operationally possible for a country, and we’re looking forward to delivering this capability to Japan as we continue our enduring partnership there.”

The Osprey’s mission capabilities include troop transport, disaster relief, personnel recovery, medical evacuation, logistics support, and executive transport.

Допълнение

Според източници от Япония сделката е на стойност 41 милиарда йени (332,5 милиона долара) за 5 машини.

The Marine Corps set a new distance record for Osprey flights on Tuesday as three MV-22Bs traveled from California to Brazil.

Flight crews from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 764 flew 6,165 miles from Marine Corps Air Station Miramar to Rio de Janeiro. The Marines made the journey as part of UNITAS Amphibious 2015, a nine-day multinational maritime exercise that runs through Nov. 24. About 1,000 troops from Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru are participating.

The Osprey squadron made a five-leg flight that included stops in Trinidad and Tobago, and Brazil, said 1st Lt. Tyler Hopkins, a UNITAS spokesman. The three Ospreys were supported by three KC-130J Hercules tankers from Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 234 and one KC-130 from Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron 452.

The flight took five days as leadership decided to wait out some bad weather, said Lt. Col. Greg Gehman, commander of the VMM-764 Moonlighters. Lessons learned from the long flight will lead to faster and more efficient responses, and help to better prepare flight crews for crossing international boundaries and dealing with environmental concerns, he said.

Such challenges were evident when Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Crisis Response was called into action in January 2014 to help evacuate the U.S. Embassy in Juba, South Sudan. The team, based out of Morón, Spain, flew nearly 4,200 miles (roughly the distance from Anchorage, Alaska, to Miami) to pull more than 20 embassy personnel out of the country amid violence between factions on the brink of civil war.

The necessity of aerial refueling for the Osprey was a key part of the mission, and the KC-130 Super Hercules allowed the crisis response Marines to travel quickly to the site, conduct a speedy mission and prevent a potential catastrophe.

That is not to say the Osprey hasn’t been extending its reach. Six Ospreys and two KC-130Js in April 2013 flew from Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, to Moron De La Frontera, Spain. That 15-hour flight marked the longest and largest transatlantic flight of any Osprey squadron to date.

Four months later, two Ospreys completed the longest MV-22 tanking mission in the Pacific. The Marines flying those aircraft took off from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, Japan, and landed in Townsville, Australia.

In South America, the Ospreys will lead helicopter operations for UNITAS, and will be assisted by Brazil and Mexico. Members of 23rd Marines, 4th Civil Affairs Group and 4th Marine Logistics Group will also participate in the exercise.

During the exercise, the troops will conduct military operations in urban terrain and live-fire exercises. A final amphibious and humanitarian assistance/disaster relief exercise is set for Nov. 19 at Ihla de Marambaia.

"Exercises like UNITAS Amphib provide real world scenarios for Reserve Marines to train in," Hopkins said. "This allows them the ability to seamlessly integrate with their active duty counterparts and maintain readiness and fosters friendly cooperation and understanding among all participating forces."

Naval Air Systems Command

NAS Patuxent River, Md.

In February 2015, the Navy announced the Carrier Onboard Delivery, commonly referred to as COD, platform of the future would be a maritime variant of the V-22 Osprey.  Until recently, that aircraft was referred to as the Navy variant. Now, that V-22 has an official designation: CMV-22B.

The main mission of the COD platform is to provide the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander with time-critical, long-range aerial logistics support by transporting personnel, mail and priority cargo from advance bases to the sea base. The CMV-22B will be the same as the MV-22B with three additions.  It will include an extended-range fuel system, a high-frequency radio and a public address system.

Currently, the Navy has planned for a total of 44 CMV-22B aircraft to be purchased.  Production is expected to begin in fiscal 2018 and deliveries of the aircraft will begin in 2020.

December 2015 SAR

The V-22 Program focus is on improving aircraft readiness, sustaining Fleet aircraft, delivery of Multi-Year 2 production aircraft, reducing operating costs, and expanding our business base, both domestically and internationally. Both the MV-22 and CV-22 continue to meet all Key Performance Parameters. APB cost performance remains within established thresholds.

Production has completed on 17 of 27 planned aircraft production lots. As of February 26, 2016, 329 (281 MV/48 CV) aircraft have been delivered. To support program affordability, the Program is currently pursuing a third Multi-Year Procurement (MYP) contract for FY 2018-FY 2022. On the V-22 MYP 2 Contract with Bell-Boeing, the Lot 20 full-funding modification was awarded for $1.184B on October 26, 2015 and $38.6M of Advance Procurement funding for Lot 21 was awarded on November 24, 2015.

The Navy variant of the V-22 in support of the Carrier Onboard Delivery mission will begin development in FY 2016. The initial Navy Non-Recurring Engineering/Engineering Change Proposal delivery order is expected to award in second quarter FY 2016. Production of the Navy variant V-22 will begin in FY 2018.

The Program Office awarded a $332M modification to the MYP 2 Contract with Bell-Boeing in July 2015 to provide for the manufacture and delivery of five MV-22 tilt rotor aircraft in support of the Government of Japan. On September 25, 2015, adelivery order was awarded with Bell-Boeing for $20.9M to complete Non-Recurring Engineering for Japan-specific aircraft modifications. It is expected that a second Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) will be in place by June 2016 for up to 12additional aircraft, for a total of 17 aircraft for Japan.

The Operational Utility Evaluation (OUE) of the new Mission Computer and Color Helmet Mounted Display systems on the CV-22 began on December 8, 2015, and was completed on February 11, 2016.

There are no significant software-related issues with the program at this time.

Press Operations

Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded a $332,468,665 modification to the previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm target multiyear contract N00019-12-C-2001. This modification provides for the manufacture and delivery of five MV-22 tiltrotor aircraft pursuant to the variation in quantity clause in support of the government of Japan. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (24.6 percent); Ridley Park, Pennsylvania (19.2 percent); Amarillo, Texas (10.4 percent); Dallas, Texas (4.3 percent); East Aurora, New York (2.5 percent); Park City, Utah (1.7 percent); El Segundo, California (1.3 percent); Endicott, New York (1 percent); Ontario, Canada (0.9 percent); Tempe, Arizona (0.8 percent); Corinth, Texas (0.8 percent); Rome, New York (0.7 percent); Torrance, California (0.7 percent); Luton, United Kingdom (0.6 percent); Los Angeles, California (0.6 percent); Cobham, United Kingdom (0.6 percent); Irvine, California (0.6 percent); San Diego, California (0.5 percent); Yakima, Washington (0.5 percent); Brea, California (0.5 percent); Rockmart, Georgia (0.5 percent); Albuquerque, New Mexico (0.4 percent); Whitehall, Michigan (0.4 percent); Wolverhampton, United Kingdom (0.4 percent); Tucson, Arizona (0.4 percent); Erie, Pennsylvania (0.3 percent); Vergennes, Vermont (0.3 percent); Kilgore, Texas (0.3 percent); Shelby, North Carolina (0.3 percent); Avon, Ohio (0.2 percent); Santa Clarita, California (0.2 percent); Garden City, New York (0.2 percent); El Cajon, California (0.2 percent); Sylmar, California (0.2 percent); Westbury, New York (0.1 percent); and various other locations inside and outside the U.S. (22.8 percent), and is expected to be completed in June 2018. Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $332,468,665 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Press Operations

Release No: CR-060-16
March 31, 2016

        Bell-Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $151,274,907 for cost-plus- fixed-fee order 0130 against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-12-G-0006) for non-recurring engineering services associated with the development of the capability for the Navy variant of the V-22 (CMV-22B) to perform the carrier on-board delivery mission.  The capability being added to the baseline MV-22 aircraft is extended range, high frequency beyond line-of-sight radio and a public address system.  Work will be performed at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (71.02 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (20.31 percent); Rockmart, Georgia (3.96 percent); St. Louis, Missouri (2.57 percent); and various locations within the continental U.S. (2.14 percent), and is expected to be completed in September 2020.  Fiscal 2016 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $15,674,576 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is being awarded $9,561,182 for modification P00010 to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N61340-12-C-0033) for the procurement of one MV-22 Tiltrotor Containerized Flight Training Device for the government of Japan under the Foreign Military Sales program.  Work will be performed in Chantilly, Virginia (90 percent); Fort Worth, Texas (8 percent); and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2 percent), and is expected to be completed in October 2017.  Foreign military sales funds in the amount of $9,561,182 are being obligated on this award, none of which expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity.

August 8, 2016

http://www.navytimes.com/story/military/2016/08/08/osprey-continues-prove-itself-carrier-tests/88396714/

A U.S. Navy official disclosed that the carrier onboard delivery (COD) variant of the Osprey, CMV-22B, will arrive in Japan to replace the C-2 starting in 2021.

While the C-2 operates out of Naval Air Facility Atsugi currently, the CMV-22B is likely to be stationed at MCAS Futenma instead.