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Bell Boeing V-22 Joint Program Reaches Production Milestone with 400th Delivery

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Bell Boeing V-22 Joint Program Reaches Production Milestone with 400th Delivery

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Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, and Boeing have delivered the 400th V-22 Osprey to the United States Department of Defense. The U.S. Air Force Special Operations command received the CV-22 on June 2, marking a milestone for the world’s first production tiltrotor aircraft. The CV-22 is the Special Operations Forces (SOF) variant of the V-22 Osprey. The CV-22 Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. Its primary mission is to conduct long-range infiltration, exfiltration and resupply missions for Air Commandos around the world and at a moment’s notice.

The Marines received the first production V-22 on May 24, 1999 and today, deliveries continue under the Multi-year Procurement III contract, valued at $5 billion through 2024. The contract includes all variants of the aircraft: Marine, Air Force, Navy and the first international customer, Japan. The V-22 is the world’s first tiltrotor aircraft in production, combining the vertical takeoff, hover and vertical landing qualities of a helicopter with the long-range, fuel efficiency and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. With the V-22 expected to be in service beyond 2040, capability enhancements and readiness initiatives are program priorities.

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Air Commandos with the 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron accept delivery of a new CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Jun. 2, 2020. The 801st SOAMXS helps keep Ospreys ready to execute infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan LeVang)
Air Commandos with the 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron accept delivery of a new CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Jun. 2, 2020. The 801st SOAMXS helps keep Ospreys ready to execute infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan LeVang)

The V-22 Osprey’s combination of speed, range, payload and vertical lift are ideally suited to the diverse environments, geographies and mission-types performed by operators around the world. The Marine Corps variant, the MV-22B, provides the safe and reliable transportation of personnel, supplies and equipment for combat assault, assault support and fleet logistics. Since 2007, it has been continuously forward-deployed in a range of combat, humanitarian and special operations. The Navy variant, the CMV-22B, is the replacement for the C-2A Greyhound for the carrier onboard delivery mission.

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), and short takeoff and landing (STOL) capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft. The failure of Operation Eagle Claw during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980 underscored the requirement for a new long-range, high-speed, vertical-takeoff aircraft for the United States Department of Defense. The V-22 production line is currently on its third multi-year procurement contract.

 Air Commandos with the 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron accept delivery of a new CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Jun. 2, 2020. The 801st SOAMXS helps keep Ospreys ready to execute infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan LeVang)
Air Commandos with the 801st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron accept delivery of a new CV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Jun. 2, 2020. The 801st SOAMXS helps keep Ospreys ready to execute infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions worldwide. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathan LeVang)

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