V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft
Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress
The V-22 Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft, capable of vertical or short take off and landing, and
forward flight like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft. The MV-22 is the Marine Corps’ top
aviation priority. Marine Corps leaders believe that the Osprey will provide them an
unprecedented capability to quickly and decisively project power from well over the horizon. The
Air Force’s CV-22 version will be used for special operations. Army officials have testified that
the service has no requirement for the V-22, but the Navy has expressed interest in purchasing
MV-22s for a variety of missions.
The V-22 program has been under development for over 25 years. Safety and maintenance
concerns have arisen during this period (due in large part to three fatal accidents). The
commander of the V-22 maintenance squadron admitted to falsifying maintenance records to
make the aircraft appear more maintainable than it was, and three Marines were found guilty of
misconduct. The program has maintained support from many in Congress despite these
deficiencies. The program has undergone restructuring to accommodate congressional direction,
budget constraints, and recommendations from outside experts and DOD managers.
After a 17-month hiatus, the Osprey embarked on its second set of flight tests in May of 2002.
Tests were completed in June 2005 to the satisfaction of Navy testers, who believed that the V-22
program had resolved all technical and engineering problems identified in internal and external
reviews. On September 28, 2005, the V-22 program passed a major milestone when the Defense
Acquisition Board approved it for military use and full rate production.
Supporters tout the V-22’s potential operational capabilities relative to the helicopters it will
replace. It will fly faster, farther and with more payload than the CH-46 Sea Knight the Marine
Corps currently operates. They argue that this combination of attributes, coupled with the ability
to take off and land vertically will provide the Marine Corps with new and potentially
transformational capabilities. Detractors tend to emphasize the V-22’s long development
schedule, its three fatal accidents, and its high cost relative to the helicopters it will replace. V-22
opponents argue that modern helicopters also offer capabilities superior to the CH-46’s and more
cost effectively than the Osprey.
Through FY2008, more than $27 billion had been provided for the V-22 program. The Defense
Department’s Selected Acquisition Report of December 31, 2007, estimated the total acquisition
of a 458-aircraft program would be $54.2 billion, which translates into a program acquisition cost
of $118.4 million per Osprey.
This report will be updated as events warrant.
Introduc tion ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Backgr ound ..................................................................................................................................... 2
System Description...................................................................................................................2
Early Development....................................................................................................................3
Accidents and Fatalities Worsen...............................................................................................4
Maintenance and Parts Falsifications........................................................................................5
Reviews and Restructuring.......................................................................................................6
Current Status............................................................................................................................9
First Operational Deployments.........................................................................................10
Engine Problems...............................................................................................................10
Multiyear Procurement Contract........................................................................................11
Foreign Military Sales........................................................................................................11
Key Issues.......................................................................................................................................11
Should the Defense Department Procure the V-22 Aircraft?...................................................11
Main Arguments of Those Who Say “Yes”........................................................................11
Main Arguments of Those Who Say “No”........................................................................12
Congressional Action....................................................................................................................13
Figure 1. V-22 Osprey in Flight.......................................................................................................3
Table 1. DOD’s V-22 Procurement Schedule.................................................................................11
Table 2. Summary of V-22 FY2009 Congressional Action...........................................................14
Table 3. Summary of V-22 FY2008 Congressional Action...........................................................14
Table 4. Summary of V-22 FY2007 Congressional Action...........................................................15
Table 5. Summary of V-22 FY2006 Congressional Action...........................................................16
Appendix. V-22 Block Configurations..........................................................................................17
Author Contact Information..........................................................................................................18
The V-22 Osprey is the Marine Corps’ top aviation priority.1 Marine Corps leaders believe that
the Osprey will provide them an unprecedented capability to quickly and decisively project power
from well over the horizon. In the words of one former leader, its “...combination of increased
payload with vastly improved speed and range make the Osprey the aircraft that defines the 2
commander’s area of influence as it relates to placing Marines on the ground.” The aircraft’s
promise, however, has been dimmed by a series of challenges to its affordability, safety, and
program management.
The V-22 tilt-rotor design combines the helicopter’s operational flexibility of vertical take off and
landing with the greater speed, range, and fuel efficiency of a turboprop aircraft. The V-22 Osprey
takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter but flies like a fixed-wing aircraft by tilting its
wing-mounted rotors 90 degrees forward to function as propellers.
The V-22 is intended to perform a variety of Marine Corps and Air Force missions, including
troop and equipment transport, amphibious assault, search and rescue, and special operations. The
Marines’ MV-22 version is to transport 24 fully-equipped troops some 200 nautical miles (nm) at
a speed of 250 knots (288 mph), exceeding the performance of the CH-46 medium-lift assault
helicopters the MV-22 will replace. The Air Force’s CV-22 version (with a range of 500 nm) will
be used for special operations. Army officials have testified that the service has no requirement
for the V-22. The Navy has expressed interest in purchasing MV-22s for a variety of missions,
(e.g., personnel recovery, fleet logistic support, aerial refueling, special warfare) but has no funds
budgeted in the current Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP).
Developed and produced by Bell Helicopter Textron of Fort Worth, TX, and Boeing Helicopters
of Philadelphia, PA, the aircraft is powered by two T406 turboshaft engines produced by Allison
Engine Company of Indianapolis, IN, a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce North America. Fuselage
assembly will be performed in Philadelphia, PA. Drive system rotors and composite assembly
will be completed in Fort Worth, TX, and final assembly and delivery will be completed in
Amarillo, TX.
Through FY2008, more than $27 billion had been appropriated for the V-22 program. The
Defense Department’s Selected Acquisition Report of December 31, 2007, estimated the total
acquisition of a 458-aircraft program would be $54.2 billion, which translates into a program
acquisition unit cost (PAUC) of $118.4 million per Osprey. The PAUC includes funding for both
development and production of the aircraft and related activities. The average procurement unit
cost (APUC), which, for the Osprey is estimated at $96.6 million does not include these sunk 3
costs. The V-22 is in full-rate production.
1 Office of Budget, Department of the Navy, “Highlights of the Department of the Navy: FY 2009 Budget,” February
2008, pp. 3-9, at http://www.finance.hq.navy.mil/FMB/09PRES/Highlights_book.pdf.
2 Lt. Gen. Frederick McCorkle, “Transforming Marine Aviation,” Marine Corps Gazette, May 2000, p. 26.
3 Selected Acquisition Report, V-22, December 31, 2007, pp. 14, 28-29, from Defense Acquisition Management
Information Retrieval.
The V-22 program has been under development for over 25 years. Safety and maintenance
concerns have arisen during this period, but the program has maintained support from many in
Congress nonetheless. The program has undergone restructuring to accommodate
recommendations from outside experts and DOD managers.
The V-22 is a tilt-rotor aircraft, capable of vertical or short take off and landing, with forward
flight like a conventional fixed-wing aircraft. About 65% of the airframe is made of graphite-
epoxy composite materials. The Marine Corps’s MV-22 version will have the following
characteristics:
Propulsion: 2 T406 turboshaft engines
Crew: 3
Passengers: 24 combat troops
Max. vertical take off weight: 47,500 lb
Max. short take off weight: 55,000 lb
Speed at max. weight: 250 knots/hour
Combat radius: 200+ nm
The airframes of the Marine Corps MV-22 and the Air Force CV-22 variant for Special
Operations Command will have some 90% commonality; the primary differences being in
avionics. The CV-22 is to carry 18 troops, with auxiliary fuel tanks increasing combat radius to
about 500 miles. This variant may carry a 50-cal GAU-19 nosegun for self defense instead of the
MV-22’s 30-cal, ramp-mounted gun.
DOD plans to field V-22s in four blocks: Blocks B and C for the Marine Corps, and Blocks 10
and 20 for the Air Force. Block B aircraft were produced first in FY2004 and are the aircraft with
which the Marine Corps achieved initial operational capability (IOC). Block B aircraft will
improve upon those used in EMD testing (Block A aircraft) with upgrades to avionics,
communications, navigation. It will also feature a retractable fuel probe, a ramp gun (for self
defense), a joist, and an improved position for the “fastrope” (a method for personnel to quickly
exit the aircraft while in hover). The Air Force will achieve IOC with the Block 10 variant, which
will be based on the Block B, but feature advanced avionics, such as terrain-following radar, and
directed infrared countermeasures, that will allow special operations forces to penetrate hostile
areas in all weather and terrain. The Marine Corps and Air Force plan to begin producing the
most capable V-22 variants—the Block C and Block 20, respectively—in FY2009 and FY2012,
respectively. See the appendix for a complete list of V-22 features by Block.
Figure 1. V-22 Osprey in Flight
The V-22 is based on the XV-15 tilt-rotor prototype which was developed by Bell Helicopter and
first flown in 1977. The Department of Defense began the V-22 program in 1981, first under
Army leadership, but with the Navy/Marine Corps later taking the lead in developing what was
then known as the JVX (joint-service vertical take-off/landing experimental aircraft). Full-scale
development of the V-22 tilt-rotor aircraft began in 1986.
Like some other tactical aviation programs (such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, F/A-22 Raptor
and Joint Strike Fighter), the total number of V-22 aircraft planned for procurement has decreased
over time. In 1989 the Defense Department projected a 663-aircraft program with six prototypes
and 657 production aircraft (552 MV-22s, 55 CV-22s, and 50 HV-22s). As projected in 1994,
however, the program comprised 523 production aircraft (425 MV-22s, 50 CV-22s, and 48 HV-
22s). Procurement of these 523 aircraft was to continue into the 2020s, since the Defense
Acquisition Board limited annual expenditures for Marine MV-22s to $1 billion (FY1994 dollars)
when it approved entry into engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) in September
accelerated procurement of 458 production aircraft (360 MV-22s for the Marines; 50 Air Force
CV-22s; and 48 Navy HV-22s). Such a 458-aircraft program is now projected.
On March 19, 1989, the first of six MV-22 prototypes was flown in the helicopter mode and on
September 14, 1989, as a fixed-wing plane. Two of these aircraft were destroyed in crashes.
Prototype aircraft numbers three and four successfully completed the Osprey’s first Sea Trials on
the USS Wasp (LHD-1) in December 1990. The fifth prototype crashed on its first flight (June 11,
1991), because of incorrect wiring in a flight-control system; the fourth prototype crashed on July
20, 1992, while landing at Quantico Marine Corps Air Station, VA, killing seven people and
destroying the aircraft. This accident was caused by a fire resulting from hydraulic component 4
failures and design problems in the engine nacelles.
Flight tests were resumed in August 1993 after changes were incorporated in the prototypes.
Flight testing of four full-scale development V-22s began in early 1997 when the first pre-
production V-22 was delivered to the Naval Air Warfare Test Center in Patuxent River, MD. The
first EMD Flight took place on February 5, 1997. The first of four low-rate initial production
aircraft, ordered on April 28, 1997, was delivered on May 27, 1999. Osprey number 10 completed
the program’s second Sea Trials, this time from the USS Saipan (LHA-2) in January 1999.
Operational evaluation (OPEVAL) testing of the MV-22 began in October 1999 and concluded in
August 2000. On October 13, 2000, the Department of the Navy announced that the MV-22 had
been judged operationally effective and suitable for land-based operations. On November 15,
2000, the Marine Corps announced that the Osprey had successfully completed sea trials and had
been deemed operationally effective and suitable for both land and sea-based operations.
Successfully completing OPEVAL should have cleared the way for full rate production. This
decision was to have been made in December 2000, but was postponed indefinitely, because of a
mixed report from DOD’s director of operational test and evaluation, and two fatal accidents.
On April 8, 2000, another Osprey crashed near Tucson, Arizona, during an exercise simulating a
noncombatant evacuation operation. All four crew members and 15 passengers died in the crash.
An investigation of the accident found that the pilot was descending in excess of the
recommended flight envelope which may have caused the aircraft to experience an environmental
condition known as “power settling” or “vortex ring state.” According to Lt. Gen. Fred McCorkle,
the pilot was descending more than a thousand feet per minute. The recommended descent rate is
800 feet per minute.” Following a two-month suspension of flight testing, the Osprey
recommenced OPEVAL in June 2000, with pilots flying a slightly tighter flight envelope. A July
27, 2000 report by the Marine Corps Judge Advocate General (JAG) (which had access to all
non-privileged information from the safety investigation) confirmed that a combination of
“human factors” caused the crash.
4 Former Secretary of Defense Cheney tried to terminate the program in 1989-92, but Congress continued to provide
funds for development of the V-22. The George H. Bush Administration’s FY1990 budget requested no funds for the
program. In submitting that budget to Congress on April 25, 1989, Defense Secretary Cheney told the House Armed
Services Committee that he “could not justify spending the amount of money ... proposed ... when we were just getting
ready to move into procurement on the V-22 to perform a very narrow mission that I think can be performed ... by
using helicopters instead of the V-22.”
This mishap appears not to be the result of any design, material or maintenance factor
specific to tilt ... rotors. Its primary cause, that of an MV-22 entering a Vortex Ring State
(Power Settling) and/or blade stall condition is not peculiar to tilt rotors. The contributing
factors to the mishap, a steep approach with a high rate of descent and slow airspeed, poor
aircrew coordination and diminished situational awareness are also not particular to tilt 5
rotors.
A DOD Inspector General study concluded that the V-22 would not successfully demonstrate 23
major operational effectiveness and suitability requirements prior to the December 2000 6
OPEVAL Milestone III decision to enter full rate production in June 2001. The Marine Corps
agreed with DOD’s assessment of the deficiencies, but said that they had been aware of these
deficiencies before the beginning of OPEVAL. Furthermore, the Marine Corps said that they had
an approved plan designed to resolve the deficiencies prior to the Milestone III decision.
On November 17, 2000, DOD’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation issued a mixed
report on the Osprey; saying although “operationally effective” the V-22 was not “operationally
suitable, primarily because of reliability, maintainability, availability, human factors and
interoperability issues.” The report recommended that more research should be conducted into the
V-22’s susceptibility to the vortex ring state blamed for the April 8, 2000 crash.
On December 11, 2000, an MV-22 Osprey crashed near Jacksonville, NC, killing all four Marines
on board. This was the fourth Osprey crash since 1991 and the third lethal accident. The aircraft’s
pilot, Lt. Col. Keith M. Sweeney was the program’s most experienced pilot and was in line to
command the first squadron of Ospreys. The aircraft’s copilot, Maj. Michael Murphy was second 7
only to Sweeney in flying time on the Osprey. The Marine Corps grounded the Osprey fleet
pending a mishap board investigation. On April 5, 2001, the Marine Corps reported that the crash
was caused by a burst hydraulic line in one of the Osprey’s two engine casings, and a software
malfunction that caused the aircraft to accelerate and decelerate unpredictably and violently when 8
the pilots tried to compensate for the hydraulic failure. The Marine Corps report called for a 9
redesign of both the hydraulics and software systems involved.
In December 2000, an anonymous letter was mailed to the media by someone claiming to be a
mechanic in the Osprey program. The letter claimed that V-22 maintenance records had been
falsified for two years, at the explicit direction of the squadron commander. Enclosed in the letter
was an audio tape that the letter’s author claimed was a surreptitious recording of the squadron
commander directing maintenance personnel to lie about the aircraft until the V-22 LRIP decision
was made. On January 20, 2001, it was reported that the V-22 squadron commander admitted to
5 V-22 JAGMAN Executive Summary, United States Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs, July 27, 2000, p.1.
6 Audit Report: V-22 Osprey Joint Advanced Vertical Aircraft. Report No. D-2000-174. Office of the Inspector
General. Department of Defense. August 15, 2000.
7 James Dao, “Marines Ground Osprey Fleet After Crash Kills Four,” New York Times, December 12, 2000.
8 An un-redacted version of JAG investigation into the April 2000 V-22 crash indicates that investigators found three
“noteworthy” maintenance “areas of concern”, including the Osprey’s hydraulics system. A Naval Safety Center
presentation to the Blue Ribbon Panel brought to light several previously unreported maintenance problems—including
hydraulics failures—that caused engine fires or other problems during the Osprey’s operational testing.
9 Mary Pat Flaherty, “Osprey Crash Blamed on Leak, Software,” Washington Post, April 6, 2001.
falsifying maintenance records. The Marine Corps subsequently relieved him of command and
reassigned him to a different position. At a May 1, 2001 hearing, members of the Senate Armed
Services Committee expressed their concern that false data might impede DOD’s ability to
accurately evaluate the V-22 program and identify problem areas and potential improvements.
The Department of Defense’s Inspector General (IG) conducted an investigation. On September
15, 2001, it was reported that three Marines were found guilty of misconduct and two were
reprimanded for their actions.
In June 2005, a U.S. grand jury indicted a company that had supplied titanium tubing for the V-22
program. The indictment charged the company with falsely certifying the quality of the tubes. The
V-22 test program was halted for 11 days in 2003 because of faulty tubes. Replacing deficient
tubes cost the V-22 program $4 million. Navy officials do not believe that these deficient tubes 10
caused fatal mishaps.
On April 19, 2001, a Blue Ribbon panel formed by then-Secretary of Defense William Cohen to 11
review all aspects of the V-22 program, reported its findings and recommendations. These
findings and recommendations were also discussed during congressional testimony on May 1,
2001. The panel recommended that the program continue, albeit in a restructured format. The
panel concluded that there were numerous problems with the V-22 program—including safety,
training and reliability problems—but nothing inherently flawed in basic tilt-rotor technology.
Because of numerous safety, training, and reliability problems, the V-22 was not maintainable, or
ready for operational use.
The panel recommended cutting production to the “bare minimum” while an array of tests were
carried out to fix a long list of problems they identified with hardware, software, and
performance. Cutting near-term production was hoped to free up funds to pay for fixes and
modifications. Once the changes had been made and the aircraft was ready for operational use,
the Panel suggested that V-22 out-year purchases could be made in large lots using multi-year
contracts to lower acquisition costs. Program officials estimated that the minimal sustainable
production rate is 12 aircraft per year, which would be less than half the Ospreys once planned for 12
FY2002. In P.L. 107-107 Sec.123, Congressional authorizers codified the Blue Ribbon Panel’s
recommendation to produce V-22s at the minimum sustainable rate until the Secretary of Defense
can certify that the Osprey is safe, reliable, maintainable, and operationally effective.
DOD appears to have taken managerial and budgetary steps to incorporate the Blue Ribbon
Panel’s recommendations. For example, DOD’s FY2001 supplemental funding request asked for
a reduction of $475 million in procurement and an increase of $80 million in R&D funds. The
additional R&D funding was to be used to support initial redesign and testing efforts to address
deficiencies, logistics, flight test, and flight test support for V-22 aircraft. The reduction in
10 Louise Story. “Maker of Tubes for Osprey Aircraft is Indicted.” New York Times. June 8, 2005. Christopher J.
Castelli. “Former Supplier of Hydraulic Tubing for V-22 Osprey Faces Indictment.” Inside the Navy. June 13, 2005.
11 This panel was chaired by retired Marine General John R. Dailey and included retired Air Force General James B.
Davis, Norman Augustine, and MIT professor Eugene Covert.
12 Adam Hebert, “Minimal Sustainable Rate Will Dramatically Cut Near-Term V-22 Buys,” Inside the Air Force, April
20, 2001.
procurement funding reflected the need to reduce production to the minimum rate while the
aircraft design changes are being developed and tested.
Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld’s FY2002 budget amendment, unveiled June 27, 2001, included a
request for the procurement of 12 Ospreys. DOD comptroller Dov Zakheim and Marine Corps
Commandant Gen. James Jones both stated that the procurement of 12 aircraft in FY2002 would
allow them to sustain the V-22 subcontractor base while simultaneously addressing the Osprey 13
program’s needs. V-22s were procured at a rate of 11 per year from FY2002 to FY2006.
Following the Blue Ribbon panel’s recommendations, former DOD Undersecretary for
Acquisition Edward “Pete” Aldridge assumed acquisition authority for the V-22 program.
Undersecretary Aldridge changed the V-22 program’s status from an ACAT 1C program—which
gives the Department of the Navy the highest required authority for production decisions—to an
ACAT 1D program. Under the latter category, the Defense Acquisition Board (DAB) will decide
if and when the program is ready to enter full rate production. Other ACAT 1D programs, for 14
example, include the F-22 Raptor and the now-cancelled RAH-66 Comanche helicopter.
A NASA-led review of the V-22 program, released November 6, 2001, concluded that there were
no known aero-mechanical phenomena that would stop the tilt-rotor aircraft’s development and
deployment. The study focused on several aero-mechanics issues, including Vortex Ring State, 15
power problems, auto-rotation, and hover performance.
In a December 21, 2001 memo to the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy, and the
Commander, Special Operations Command, Undersecretary of Defense Aldridge gave his
authorization for the V-22 to resume flight testing in the April 2002 time frame. Secretary
Aldridge expressed support for range, speed, and survivability goals of the V-22. He noted,
however that the program still had numerous technical challenges to overcome, and emphasized
that the V-22 must demonstrate that “1) it can meet the needs of the warfighter better than any
other alternative, 2) it can be made to be reliable, safe, and operationally suitable, and 3) it is
worth its costs in contributing to the combat capability of U.S. forces.” Secretary Aldridge
approved the flight test program under the condition that the production rate be slowed to the
minimum sustaining level, that it be comprehensive and rigorous, and that the restructured 16
program is fully funded in accordance with current estimates. Undersecretary Aldridge
estimated that the V-22 would require at least two years of flight testing before DOD could 17
conclude that the aircraft is safe, effective, and “worth the cost.”
Mechanical adjustments slowed the V-22 test schedule, and the MV-22 took its first test flight on
May 29, 2002. The Air Force CV-22 resumed flight tests on September 11, 2002. Flight tests were
designed to explore both technical and operational concerns. Technical concerns include flight
13 DOD News Briefing, Wed. June 27, 2001, 1:30PM and Kerry Gildea, “New V-22 Plan Sustains Lower Tier
Contractors, Jones Reports,” Defense Daily, May 15, 2001.
14 “Navy Loses Osprey Authority,” Washington Post, May 22, 2001 and Hunter Keeter, “Aldridge Maneuvers V-22
Acquisition Authority Away from Navy,” Defense Daily, May 22, 2001 and Linda de France, “V-22 Osprey Production
Authority Transferred from Navy to DoD,” Aerospace Daily, May 22, 2001.
15 Christopher Castelli, “ NASA Review Panel Endorses Resumption of V-22 Flight Tests,” InsideDefense.com,.
November 14, 2001.
16 “Text: Aldridge Memo on V-22,” Inside the Navy, January 7, 2002.
17 Tony Capaccio, “Textron-Boeing V-22 Needs Two years of Testing, Aldridge Says,” Bloomberg.com, October 16,
2001.
control software and the reliability and robustness of hydraulic lines. Operational concerns
explored included whether the Osprey is too prone to Vortex Ring State to make it a safe or
effective aircraft, whether this potential problem is further exacerbated by multiple Osprey’s 18
flying in formation, and how well the V-22 handles at sea.
The principal differences between the aircraft that were grounded in 2000 and the aircraft that
began testing 17 months later (called “Block A” aircraft) are re-routed hydraulic lines, and an 19
improved caution and warning system. Technical glitches were experienced during tests.
Hydraulic failures, for example, continued during the reinstated flight test program, once on
August 4, 2003, (due to a mis-installed clamp) and again on September 5, 2003. In June 2004 a V-
“Class B” mishap (one causing between $200,000 and $1 million in damage). An investigation
revealed that the V-22 suffered from widespread problems with an engine component that 21
required replacement every 100 flight hours.
In conjunction with resuming flight testing, the Navy Department modified certain V-22
requirements. For instance, the V-22 is no longer required to land in helicopter mode without
power (also known as “autorotation”), protection from nuclear, chemical and biological weapons
has been eliminated. The V-22 is no longer required to have an “air combat maneuvering”
capability; instead it must demonstrate “defensive maneuvering.” Also, the requirement that 22
troops be able to use a rope or rope ladder to exit the cabin at low altitudes has been eliminated.
Also concurrent with the resumption of V-22 flight testing, DOD began an in-depth study of
alternatives to pursue in case the aircraft does not pass muster. Options reportedly include 23
purchasing the S-92, or upgrading CH-53, or EH101 helicopters.
After one calendar year and 466 hours of flight testing, DOD reviewed the Osprey’s progress. On
May 15, 2003, Thomas Christie, DOD’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E),
graded Bell-Boeing’s improvements to the Osprey’s hydraulics as “reasonable and appropriate” 24
and “effective.” Christie also at that time approved of the testing that had been completed and
was satisfied with what had been learned about the V-22’s susceptibility to Vortex Ring State. On
May 20, 2003, the Defense Acquisition Board also reviewed the program and approved of the
flight test program’s progress.
Marine Corps officials recommended increasing the production rate in FY2006 from the
minimum sustainable rate of 11 to 20 aircraft. However, in an August 8, 2003, memorandum,
Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition Michael Wynne announced that this acceleration
“presents more risk than I am willing to accept.” Instead, Wynne restructured the planned
procurement, reducing the FY2006 purchase to 11 aircraft. “For subsequent years’ procurement
18 Thomas Ricks, “V-22 Osprey to Face Make or Break Tests,” Washington Post, December 25, 2002, p. 14.
19Jefferson Morris, “Pilot: Resumption of V-22 Testing To Be Treated Like First Flight,” Aerospace Daily, April 29,
2002.
20 Christopher Castelli. “Navy Convenes Mishap Board to Investigate Latest V-22 Incident.” Inside the Navy. July 5,
2004.
21 Christian Lowe. “V-22 Ospreys Require New Engine Component Every 100 Hours.” Navy Times. July 16, 2004.
22 Joseph Neff, “Eased Standards ‘Fix’ Osprey,” Raleigh News & Observer, May 19, 2002, p.1.
23 “Aldridge Makes Progress Check on MV-22 at NAS Patuxent River,” Defense Daily, February 11, 2003.
24 Tony Capaccio, “Boeing-Textron B-22 Gets Favorable Review From Pentagon Tester,” Bloomberg.com, May 19,
2003.
planning, production rates should increase by about 50% per year for a total of 152 aircraft th
through FY09,” according to the August 8 memo. Wynne directed that the savings resulting
from the reduced procurement (estimated at $231 million) be invested in improving the V-22’s
interoperability, by funding the Joint Tactical Radio System, Link 16 and Variable Message
Format communication. Wynne also directed that a multi-year procurement (MYP) of the V-22 be
accelerated. While some suggest that this restructuring will more quickly deliver high-quality
aircraft to the Marines and Special Operations Forces, others fear that slowing procurement will
inevitably raise the platform’s cost.
In December 2004 the V-22 budget and schedule were restructured again. Program Budget
Decision 753 (PBD-753) cut 22 aircraft from the V-22’s production schedule and $1.3 billion
from the budget between FY2006 and FY2009.
On June 18, 2005, the MV-22 program completed its second round of operational evaluation
(OPEVAL) flight. The test program was marked by two emergency landings, a Class B mishap, a
small fire in an engine compartment, and problems with the prop-rotor gear box. However, Navy
testers recommended that DOD declare the V-22 operationally suitable, and effective for military
use. This recommendation was based, in part, on observations that the MV-22 had complied with
the objectives of P.L. 107-107 Sec.123: hydraulic components and flight control software
performed satisfactorily, the aircraft was reliable and maintainable, the MV-22 operated
effectively when employed with other aircraft, and the aircraft’s downwash did not inhibit ground 25
operations.
On September 28, 2005, the V-22 program passed a major milestone when the Defense 26
Acquisition Board approved it for military use and full rate production. The MV-22 continues
testing to assess survivability and to develop tactics. The CV-22 is in developmental test and
evaluation. The program continues to experience technical and operational challenges, and
mishaps. For example, an inadvertent takeoff in March 2006 caused wing and engine damage in
excess of $1 million. An engine component has been replaced because its failure in flight has
caused seven unexpected flight terminations. In October 2005, a V-22 experienced engine damage
during flight due to icing. An engine compressor failure during the V-22’s first overseas
deployment (July 2006) forced the aircraft to make a precautionary landing before reaching its
destination. An engine fire on December 7, 2006, caused more than $1 million to repair, and the
Marine Corps grounded all of its V-22s in February 2007 after it was found that a faulty computer
chip could cause the aircraft to lose control during flight.
The MV-22 achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) on June 13, 2008, and IOC for the CV-
22 is anticipated in February 2009. Current issues surrounding the V-22 include the MV-22’s first
combat deployment, reported engine problems, and DOD’s signing of a multiyear procurement
contract with The Boeing Company and Bell-Textron.
25 “Letter of Observation in Support of MV-22 Program Compliance with Section 123 of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002.” Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force. Department of the
Navy. February 18, 2005.
26 Andy Pasztor. “Pentagon Clears Full Production for Osprey Aircraft.” Wall Street Journal. September 29, 2005.
In October 2007, the Marine Corps deployed 10 MV-22s from VMM-263, a Marine Medium
Tiltrotor Squadron, to Al Anbar province in Iraq. During the first three months of deployment, the
squadron had completed more than 2,000 air support requests while logging more than 2,000 2728
combat flight hours and maintaining an average mission-capable rate of 68%. Reportedly, the
Marine Corps has lauded the extended range, speed, and payload that the Osprey possesses in
comparison to helicopters it is intended to replace as instrumental to the success of time-critical 29
interdiction and medical evacuation missions during the deployment.
In December 2008, four CV-22s returned from their first operational deployment, participating in
a multinational in the African country Mali. Those involved in this deployment report
successfully self-deploying the squadron to a remote and austere location and conducting 30
simulated long-range air-drop, and extraction missions.
Recently, DOD officials have raised two concerns with the V-22’s engine. First, the Marine Corps
is concerned that V-22 engines, manufactured by Rolls-Royce, are not lasting as long as expected.
For example, when the Marine Corps began to purchase the V-22, it was anticipated that each
engine would last approximately 600 flight hours. However, fleet-wide engines are lasting about
flight hours. While this problem does not detract from the aircraft’s in-flight performance, it
does call into question the long-term viability of the engine-sustainment deal that DOD currently
has with Rolls-Royce, which was based on a business case model where the engines were 32
expected to last “so many thousand hours.”
In addition to the engine not lasting as long as expected, some have also questioned whether the
existing engine is powerful enough to support aircraft modifications expected to increase the
Osprey’s weight. For example, the Marine Corps expects to add defensive systems designed to
defeat shoulder-launched surface-to-air-missiles and guns to the Osprey, but wants to maintain a
capability to carry 24 Marines. How DOD plans to deal with these two problems is unclear.
Options being considered include renegotiating a long-term sustainment contract with an industry
partner, transitioning to an organic model where the Osprey’s engines would be sustained by 33
DOD personnel, or selecting an entirely new engine for the V-22.
27 An aircraft’s mission capable rate is the percentage of time an aircraft is available for to fly scheduled sorties.
28 Gareth Jennings, “USMC Details Osprey Operational Availability Rates in Iraq,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, February
20, 2008, online at http://www.janes.com.
29 Michael Fabey, “Ospreys Proving Mettle in Counter-IED, Medevac Missions,” Aerospace Daily & Defense Report,
January 31, 2008, p. 4.
30 1st Lt. Lauren Johnson. “CV-22s Complete First Operational Deployment.” Air Force News. December 3, 2008.
31 Caitlin Harrington, “USMC Considers Engine Options for V-22 Osprey,” Jane’s Defense Weekly, March 26, 2008,
online at http://www.janes.com.
32 Christopher J. Castelli, “Option Under Review: V-22 Engine Woes Prompt Officials to Rethink Rolls-Royce Deal,”
March 21, 2008, online at http://www.insidedefense.com.
33 Ibid.
On March 28, 2008, the Navy awarded a five-year, $10.4 billion contract to Bell-Boeing Joint
Program Office for the manufacture and delivery of 167 V-22s—141 MV-22s for the Marine
Corps and 26 CV-22s for the Air Force—that are expected to be purchased between FY2008 and
FY2012. DOD expects the multiyear contract to save $427 million when compared to the annual 34
contract. Table 1 summarizes DOD’s anticipated V-22 procurement schedule:
Table 1. DOD’s V-22 Procurement Schedule
FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 Complete Total
MV-22 30 30 30 30 135 408
CV-22 5 5 5 5 8 50
Total 35 35 35 35 143 458
To date, there have been no sales of the V-22 to foreign military forces. However, the Marine
Corps’ successful deployment of the MV-22 to Iraq has reportedly sparked interest in the V-22 35
among Norway, Israel, and Japan.
The Defense Department should accelerate procurement of the V-22, which the Marine Corps
considers its most important aviation program, in order to obtain these aircraft sooner and at more
economical production rates. The V-22 is needed to replace aging military helicopters in all the
services, which are costly to maintain and operate safely and effectively. The Army should
reconsider its decision not to buy the V-22, which the Air Force wants to procure for its Special
Operations missions and combat search and rescue. The Osprey represents a truly joint capability,
as evidenced by the Navy’s desire to purchase MV-22s for search and rescue, and other missions.
This tilt-rotor aircraft will provide the operational flexibility of a helicopter without the
helicopter’s inherent limitations of speed, range, and altitude. While there may be new helicopters
that could replace and improve on today’s military helicopters, V-22 proponents say that none of
them would match the Osprey’s capabilities. When landing on hostile shores in a third-world
34 Christopher J. Castelli, “Navy Awards $10.4 Billion V-22 Multiyear Deal,” Inside Washington Publishers, March
28, 2008, online at http://www.insidedefense.com.
35 Unattributed, “What’s Ahead in Aerospace & Defense: Osprey Export,” Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, Vol.
226, No. 35, May 19, 2008, p. 1.
conflict (typically lacking important infrastructure such as airfields and roads), the V-22 would be
critical for the transport of Marines from ship to shore. Senior DOD officials have testified that
the V-22 would have, for example, made a significant contribution to the war on terrorism in
Afghanistan.
The Osprey has been rigorously tested and its accident rate is consistent with other aircraft
development programs, supporters say. While some technical problems have been encountered,
leading experts have testified that there are no technological barriers to the employment of tilt-
rotor technology. Engineering-level modifications have, put the Osprey program back on track.
The recently complete OPEVAL demonstrates that the V-22 program has resolved all of the
concerns expressed by the Blue Ribbon Panel and by Congress.
Supporters of the V-22 also cite the tilt-rotor’s potential value for civil aviation, law enforcement, 36
and foreign sales by the U.S. aerospace industry. The development of tilt-rotor aircraft for the
armed services could have significant spin-off effects for civil aviation and U.S. technology, 37
giving the U.S. aerospace industry a major competitive advantage in the international market.
The V-22 is unaffordable in the present budgetary environment, when the cost of buying large
numbers of these transport/cargo aircraft would most likely be at the expense of more critical
defense needs. Ship-to-shore logistical operations can be performed by less expensive helicopters
for the kinds of landing operations in which the Marines are likely to be involved, where the V-
22’s greater speed and range would not be needed. Moreover, Marine assault missions in an
opposed landing would involve ship-to-shore movement of troops and equipment, which would
require coordination with aircraft having less speed and range than the V-22. Others have argued
that the Osprey’s hypothetical contribution to the war in Afghanistan is questionable due to the
high altitude of that country, and the Osprey’s inability to improve greatly over helicopter
performance in this area.
Opponents cast doubt on the Osprey’s operational capabilities and operational concepts. A
January 12, 2001 presentation by the GAO to the V-22 Blue Ribbon Panel for instance said that
the V-22’s cabin may not be large enough to carry 24 combat-equipped Marines, and that the
severe rotor down wash might impede the ability of troops to exit the aircraft and move into
combat positions. Also, to avoid entering Vortex Ring State, Osprey’s will have to descend
slowly, which will make them vulnerable to ground fire in combat situations. Critics also
challenge comparison’s that are made between the Osprey and conventional helicopters. The
Osprey can, they concede, lift three times more dead weight than can the CH-46. But the Osprey
is also three times heavier and five times more expensive than the Sea Knight. Also, the CH-46 is
36 Sen. Ted Stevens et al., “Continuation of the V-22 Aircraft Program,” remarks in the Senate, Congressional Record,
daily edition, April 19, 1989, pp. S4507-S4509.
37 The potential civil application of tilt-rotor technology is also considered by some a good reason to pursue the V-22
program. A February 1988 study by the FAA and NASA concluded that tilt-rotors could help relieve airport congestion
by diverting commuters and short-distance passengers to vertiports in urban centers. The importance of U.S. production
of a tilt-rotor aircraft for civilian purposes was the subject of a hearing on July 17, 1990, by the House Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Transportation, Aviation, and Materials. In 1992, Congress
enacted legislation (H.R. 6168) directing the Secretary of Transportation to establish a “civil tilt-rotor development
advisory committee” to evaluate the feasibility and viability of developing civil tilt-rotor aircraft and infrastructure
necessary to incorporate tilt-rotor aircraft into the national transportation system.
a 1970s-era helicopter. Critics argue that the V-22’s performance should be compared to
contemporary aircraft (such as the EH-101), not one that is 30 years old. When compared to
contemporary helicopters, critics argue, the V-22’s capabilities don’t appear nearly as 38
impressive.
In light of several V-22 crashes, three involving fatalities, many argue that the tilt-rotor
technology is not sufficiently mature to merit the Osprey’s production and fielding. Studies
suggest that tilt-rotor aircraft are more susceptible to airflow instabilities that can cause Vortex 39
Ring State than are traditional helicopters. And our understanding of the kinds of airflow
anomalies that have caused numerous deaths in V-22 flight testing are still very immature.
Whatever commercial value a tilt-rotor aircraft might some day have for civil aviation, the V-22’s
value as a military system is insufficient to justify its high cost ($110 million per aircraft) in these
times of budgetary constraints and higher priority defense needs. Finally, critics also argue that
the Navy is “dumbing down” the V-22’s requirements and making it a less effective aircraft.
Throughout the program, supporters have called for accelerating procurement beyond the levels
projected in the Administration’s plan, arguing that this would reduce program costs over the long
term and would get more aircraft in service sooner. Aircraft purchase through Navy accounts are
being assigned to the Marine Corps, while aircraft purchased through Air Force accounts and
modified with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) funding are being assigned to Air
Force special operations units.
The Administration’s FY2009 request included nearly $3.0 billion in procurement and RDT&E
funding for V-22. This request is the second year of a five-year multiyear purchase for V-22. The 40
Marine Corps has stated an unfunded requirement for $7 million to modify 19 MV-22 aircraft. 41
In addition, the Air Force has an unfunded requirement of $82 million for one CV-22. The
request is summarized in Table 2.
38 See, for example, Everest Riccioni, “Osprey or Albatross?,” Defense News, January 27, 2004.
39 Michael Dornheim, “Tiltrotor Wake ‘More Complex’ Than Classic Vortex Ring State,” Aviation Week & Space
Technology, July 15, 2002.
40 Letter from Gen. James T. Conway to the Honorable Duncan Hunter, “Marine Corps’ FY 2009 Unfunded
Requirements,” February 1, 2008, p. 3, at http://www.insidedefense.com/secure/data_extra/pdf7/dplus2008_0434.pdf.
41 SAF/FMB, Budget and Appropriations Liaison Office, “U.S. Air Force FY 2009 Unfunded Requirements List,”
February 2009, p. 2.
Table 2. Summary of V-22 FY2009 Congressional Action
(millions of dollars)
Administration’s Request USN USAF USSOCOM
FY2009 30 aircraft 6 aircraft —
Procurement $2133.4 $409
Advance Procurement $87 $14.2 —
Mods $41.5 $22.6 $163
RDT&E $68.8 $18.6 $38.2
Congressional authorizers and appropriators matched all V-22 funding requests for FY2009
except for the USSOCOM RDT&E request. Appropriations conferees added $2 million to this
account for the CV-22 Helmet Mounted Display.
The Administration’s FY2008 request included $2.4 billion in procurement and RDT&E funding
for the V-22. This request is the first year of a five-year multiyear purchase for the V-22. Further,
appropriators stipulated that funds appropriated for Navy RDT&E for the V-22 “may be used to 42
meet unique operational requirements of the Special Operations Forces.” Additionally,
authorizers and appropriators expressed concern with slips in the modification schedules for Air
Force CV-22s and reduced funding from the SOCOM account for the modification of one 43
aircraft.
On behalf of the Navy Department, the Administration requested $140.5 million for two MV-22s
and $107.8 million for MV-22 modernization in its FY2008 emergency supplemental. On behalf
of the Air Force, the Administration requested $492.5 million in supplemental funding for the
procurement of five CV-22s and $173.8 million in supplemental funding for SOCOM to modify 44
the aircraft for special operations use. Authorizers matched all FY2008 supplemental requests.
Appropriators are expected to consider additional FY2008 emergency supplemental funding as
early as June 2008. The request, as well as congressional action, is summarized in Table 3.
Table 3. Summary of V-22 FY2008 Congressional Action
(millions of dollars)
Administration’s Request USN USAF USSOCOM
FY2008 21 aircraft 5 aircraft —
Procurement $1758.7 $453.7
Advance Procurement $200.7 $41.2 —
Mods $68.4 $16.5 $238.6
RDT&E $117.9 $16.7 $23.5
42 H.Rept. 110-434, Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 3222, p. 15.
43 Ibid, p. 235 and H.Rept. 110-477, p. 731.
44 H.Rept. 110-477, pp. 1074, 1076, 1096, and 1107.
Authorization Conference USN USAF USSOCOM
H.R. 4986 (H.Rept. 110-477) Matched USN and USAF requests Cut $23.4M from
USSOCOM’s
modification request
Appropriations Conference USN USAF USSOCOM
H.R. 3222 (H.Rept. 110-434) Matched USN and USAF requests Cut $23.4M from USSOCOM’s
modification request
The Administration’s FY2007 request included $2.2 billion in procurement and RDT&E funding
for the V-22. In addition, Section 127 of the FY2007 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L.
V-22 beginning in FY2008. The administration’s request, as well as congressional action, is
summarized in Table 4.
Table 4. Summary of V-22 FY2007 Congressional Action
(millions of dollars)
Administration’s Request USN USAF USSOCOM
FY2007 14 aircraft 2 aircraft —
Procurement $1304 $208.6
Advance Procurement $194.1 $34.4 —
Mods $85.8 $0.5 $168.8
RDT&E $268.4 $26.6 —
Authorization Conference USN USAF USSOCOM
H.R. 5122 (H.Rept. 109-702) Matched Administration’s Request
Appropriations Conference USN USAF USSOCOM
H.R. 5631 (H.Rept. 109-676) Cut $10.0M from USN’s Matched Matched
Procurement Request Administration’s Administration’s
Request Request
The Administration’s FY2006 request included $1.8 billion in procurement and RDT&E funding
for the V-22. The request, as well as congressional action, is summarized in Table 5, below.
45 H.Rept. 109-702, Conference Report to accompany H.R. 5122, September 29, 2006, p. 28.
Table 5. Summary of V-22 FY2006 Congressional Action
(millions of dollars)
Administration’s Request USN USAF USSOCOM
FY2006 9 aircraft 2 aircraft —
Procurement 993.3 233.8
Advance Procurement 67.3 10.5
Mods 81 0.1 117.9
RDT&E 206.3 39.5 29.9
Authorization Conference USN USAF USSOCOM
H.R. 1815 (H.Rept. 109-360) Matched +$2.0M RDT&E Matched Request
Request
Appropriations Conference USN USAF USSOCOM
H.R. 2863 (H.Rept. 109-359) Matched Request
Procurement Cut $11.5M Matched Matched
Advance Procurement Matched Request Administration’s Administration’s
Mods Added $3.5M Request Request
RDT&E Added $1.0M
MV-22 Block A
(OPEVAL and Training configuration) CV-22 Block 10
• Improvements to hydraulic line clearances • SIRFC
• Flight Control software improvements • DIRCM
• Multi mode radar
MV-22 Block B • “Silent Shield”
• Improved Nacelle maintenance • Flight engineer’s data display
• Retractable fuel probe • Flight engineer’s seat
• Avionics, communications, navigation upgrades • Low probability of intercept/detection radar altimeter
• Production icing system • TCAS (terrain collision avoidance system)
• Ramp gun • Troop commander’s situational awareness
• Hoist • ALE-47 decoy
• Improved fastrope location • Navigation improvements
• Lower antenna
MV-22 Block C • Dual digital map
• Flight incident recorder • GATM (global air traffic management)
• Radar altimeter sling load modification
• Fuel dump modification CV-22 Block 20
• Weather radar • Geo-reference coupled approach to hover
• Wheel well fire suppression • Terrain Following below 50 kts corrections
• Oil cooler inlet screen • CV-22 Heads up Display (HUD)
• Main Landing Gear brake redesign • Digital Map System upgrades
• Mid wing gear box indicator • Great Circle Navigation corrections
• Slip ring • Performance calculator
• Cargo hook door upgrade • Passenger Oxygen
• JTRS cluster 1 with Link 16
• Emergency power
• Fuel dump corrections
Christopher Bolkcom
Specialist in Military Aviation
cbolkcom@crs.loc.gov, 7-2577