MV-22 Osprey Is Safest Marine Corps Rotorcraft Over Past 10 Years

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) said this week that the Bell Boeing-built V-22 Osprey fleet has surpassed 100,000 flight hours.

The milestone was reached on Feb. 10 during a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey combat mission in Afghanistan. Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 264, currently operating out of Camp Bastion in Helmand Province, was identified as the squadron that eclipsed the 100,000-hour mark. "The entire Bell Boeing tiltrotor team congratulates our Marine Corps and Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) customers on achieving 100,000 flight hours, and counting," said John Rader, executive director of the Bell Boeing V-22 Program. "The performance of the aircraft in combat and humanitarian missions has been truly remarkable. We continue to take great pride in providing our customers with this revolutionary capability."

Marine Corps MV-22 and AFSOC CV-22 Ospreys amassed the flight hours while performing combat, humanitarian, training, and test and evaluation missions. Almost half of the total hours were flown during the past two years. This milestone marks the latest major achievement for a program that has seen 14 successful combat and humanitarian deployments since the Osprey was first declared operational in 2007. "The V-22 is proven and forward-deployed, supporting combat operations and responding to contingency operations around the world," said Marine Corps Col. Greg Masiello, head of the V-22 Joint Program Office (PMA-275) at NAVAIR. "The Osprey brings unprecedented range, speed and survivability to the warfighter and will continue to excel in combat and remain ready, effective and survivable."

According to Naval Safety Center records, the MV-22 has had the lowest Class A mishap rate of any rotorcraft in the Marine Corps during the past decade. The aircraft's reduced susceptibility, lower vulnerability and advanced crashworthiness have made it the most survivable military rotorcraft ever introduced. Fiscal Year 2010 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. Navy transport rotorcraft. "At 100,000 flight hours, safety, survivability and mission efficiency have become hallmarks of the operational fleet," said Mitch Snyder, deputy program director for the Bell Boeing V-22 Program.

In a related development, the aircraft is set to be fitted with a defensive weapon system developed over the last four years by BAE, which is based on the company’s Remote Guardian System (RGS), a remotely operated defensive weapon system that provides 360° of suppressive weapons fire for the V-22.

The RGS system is a common airborne defensive capability. Designed to be belly-mounted on the V-22, BAE says it is the first remote weapon system capable of delivering accurate, sustained fire throughout the aircraft’s flight envelope. It features a compact, retractable design that saves valuable aircraft cabin space and is compatible with the full complement of the V-22’s avionics suite. “This system will provide vital protection to the V-22, its operators, and the Marines it will carry,” said Jim Garceau, vice president of defense avionics for BAE Systems. “The weapon system’s accuracy and ability to lock onto a stationary target in flight are critical to the defense of the aircraft.”

Under the $14 million contract, which calls for a belly-mounted, all quadrant defensive weapon capability for the Osprey, BAE Systems will produce and support RGS defensive weapon systems to be delivered by the end of 2012. The contract also includes a $12 million exercisable option for additional systems and support.

FMI: www.navair.navy.mil