The government is releasing two reviews of the V-22 Osprey in the next few months, and they will undoubtedly generate media attention. Program critics may use the release of these reports as an opportunity to trash the Osprey, but more serious thinkers will put the reports in the proper context.
Beyond sensational headlines, the real news is that the military services – with the U.S. Marine Corps in the lead — are successfully embarking upon continuous improvement of an aircraft that is absolutely essential to our military’s concepts of operation, especially in the Indo-Pacific.
The Navy is authoring a report on the program, known as a “comprehensive review” of the V-22. Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, commander of Naval Air Systems Command, recently said he is making final edits. It is unclear whether this will be made public. Chebi has noted that about 70 percent of the recommendations will center on both safety and readiness of the Navy’s version of the aircraft, the CMV-22B.
Meanwhile, the Government Accountability Office is expected to release its own review of the Osprey. The GAO is notorious for “shooting behind the target” – the GAO tends to focus on issues and events as if they are preserved in amber, when in fact many corrective actions may have already occurred.
Both reviews were initiated following the tragic crash of an Air Force CV-22 Osprey off the coast of Japan in November 2023, in which eight airmen died. Crash investigations have pointed to a failure of the material in the gears of the proprotor gear box, which is being addressed through a new “triple-melt” forging process to minimize imperfections in the metal alloy.
Addressing operational issues
The Marine Corps has been especially vocal in addressing operational issues while continuing to fly the Osprey safely. Lt. Gen. Bradford Gering, deputy commandant for Marine Corps Aviation, said recently, “I think the best way I could probably put it in context … for the Marine Corps, this is our Super Hornet. This is the core of the aviation combat element.”
He added, “All the work that’s been done since there was discussion about the mishap last year is only going to make us better. So, I’m encouraged by all that. But we remain all-in to this program.”
The deputy commandant’s statements align with the recently published aviation plan issued by the Marine Corps. Released by Gering earlier this year, the plan seeks to balance present-day needs with future modernization, emphasizing operational readiness as its top priority while looking to “fully embrace cutting-edge technologies.”
“As multiple platforms transition, we will continue to modernize our fixed, rotary and unmanned fleets to deliver the sustained reach and lethality combatant commanders need,” the plan states. “We will also continue investment in modernization of our Marine Aviation Logistics Squadrons to sustain our Marine Aircraft Groups and their combat aircraft operating in every clime and place.”
The new aviation plan is unwavering in its commitment to the MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor, serving as the “backbone of Marine Corps combat assault transport capability.” To enhance safety, the service is working on improvements to the aircraft’s proprotor gearbox, a critical component linked to some Osprey mishaps in past years.
“As the core of the MEU ACE [Marine Expeditionary Unit, Aviation Combat Element] and centerpiece of MAGTF [Marine Air-Ground Task Force] amphibious lift, the Osprey must continue to evolve,” the plan says, and it lists a number of areas for focus, including:
- MV-22 capabilities, readiness and sustainability for the growing fleet;
- Modernization of reliability and capability to ensure platform relevance through fielding of Next Generation Assault Support;
- Aircraft survivability equipment upgrades;
- Digital Interoperability, including the MAGTF agile network gateway link, to bring on Link 16, which would enable a shared operational picture and enhanced situational awareness;
- Common Data Link, Advanced Networking Wave Form and Tactical Targeting Network Technology;
- Adding mission kits to support expanded mission sets like Network on the Move- Airborne, Intrepid Tiger-II Block V V4, and other sensor packages.
Contours of a mid-life upgrade program
The Marine Corps has stated the Osprey will remain in service well into the middle of this century. A thoughtful V-22 mid-life upgrade program will help address both current and future operational needs and ensure that the vision of the Marine Corps aviation plan becomes reality.
Contours of such a program might include:
- Leveraging a nacelle improvement program, an initiative strongly supported by Congress;
- Identification of cockpit obsolescence issues;
- Implementation of a modular open system approach and digital backbone, which will allow for rapid incorporation of new technologies and reduced costs;
- Expansion of the market basket of parts, a procurement approach that increases availability, improves readiness and reduces costs;
- Reliance on performance-based logistics that look at outcomes – such as system reliability and availability – rather than delivery of specific products and services.
It’s clear the Marines are committed to the MV-22B Osprey. Its capabilities cannot be duplicated by any other aircraft, and the tiltrotor’s speed and range have transformed the concepts of operation of not just the Marine Corps, but the entire joint force.
The Marines are leading with vision, but the Corps needs the support of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Congress. For a critically important airframe such as the Osprey, projected to last at least until 2055, we can indeed improve both safety and performance at the same time.
