Despite its ‘widowmaker’ reputation, the US Navy has reinforced its commitment to the CMV-22B Osprey by awarding a US$590 million contract to the Bell Boeing Joint Program Office to produce five more aircraft.
Meanwhile, within days of this contract, a US Osprey aircraft made an emergency landing in Japan, raising questions over the US Navy’s continued investment in this platform.
Jiji Press reported that the US military’s Osprey transport aircraft made an emergency landing on March 25 at Matsumoto Airport in Nagano Prefecture, forcing authorities to temporarily close the facility.
According to prefectural government officials and others, no injury has been reported in the incident.
Often referred to as the “widowmaker” due to its history of mechanical failures and fatal crashes, the V-22 Osprey remains one of the most controversial aircraft in military service.
Yet, the U.S. Navy continues to invest heavily in the CMV-22B variant, recently awarding a US$590 million contract to the Bell Boeing Joint Program Office. This decision underscores the Navy’s reliance on the Osprey’s unique operational capabilities despite mounting concerns over safety, cost, and reliability.
With US$132.1 million from the fiscal 2024 budget allocated upfront, the Navy is reinforcing its commitment to strengthening its logistics fleet.
Work on the new units is expected to conclude by January 2028. Thus, the US Navy is inching closer to its goal of fielding 44 Ospreys by the mid-2030s, aiming to bolster its logistical capabilities for carrier strike groups.
The CMV-22B Osprey is a next-generation tiltrotor aircraft with vertical and short takeoff and landing (VTOL/STOL) capabilities, designed specifically for the Navy’s carrier onboard delivery (COD) missions.
Since its operational debut in 2021, the CMV-22B has delivered personnel, mail, and high-priority cargo to U.S. Navy carriers.
Its ability to operate without the catapult launch or arrestor gear required by its predecessor greatly enhances operational flexibility. Yet, this advancement comes at a steep cost, both financially and in terms of safety risks.
History & Evolution Of CMV-22B
The story of the CMV-22B Osprey begins with its predecessor, the V-22 Osprey program, which traces its origins to a tragedy.
Following the failed Operation Eagle Claw in 1980, an attempted rescue mission of U.S. hostages in Iran, the Department of Defense sought to address the limitations of conventional helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
This failure underscored the need for an aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing while achieving higher speeds and ranges.
To fulfill this need, the Joint-Service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) program was launched in 1981. Bell Helicopter and Boeing Helicopters won the development contract in 1983, and after years of testing and setbacks, the V-22 Osprey saw its first flight in 1989.
It entered service with the U.S. Marine Corps as the MV-22B in 2007, despite technical challenges and safety concerns during its development.
By the mid-2010s, the U.S. Navy identified the need to replace its C-2A Greyhound fleet, which had served as the primary COD platform since the 1960s. Limited range and payload, along with maintenance challenges, necessitated the Greyhound’s replacement
The Navy adapted the V-22 into the CMV-22B variant, tailoring it specifically for carrier resupply missions. Modifications included extended range, advanced communication systems, and a redesigned cargo bay to meet the Navy’s unique operational needs.
The CMV-22B’s first operational deployment came in 2021, marking a transition into a new era of naval aviation. However, persistent technical and operational concerns have overshadowed this milestone.
Safety Concerns & Technical Failures
Despite its innovative design and operational advantages, the CMV-22B Osprey has faced significant scrutiny due to safety issues. Since its inception, the V-22 family has been involved in multiple fatal crashes, raising alarms about its reliability.
In November 2023, a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan, killing eight service members and prompting a complete grounding of all V-22s.
Ultimately, the Pentagon resumed flights after implementing additional safety measures. Japan, however, blamed human error for the tragedy, focusing on lapses in pilot decision-making and delayed responses to cockpit warnings
In August 2023, during a training exercise in Australia, a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey crashed, resulting in three fatalities and injuries to 20 others. This crash showed longstanding mechanical reliability issues associated with the Osprey program.
In June 2022, an MV-22 Osprey crashed in Southern California due to a hard clutch engagement (HCE) issue, killing five Marines. Investigations revealed the clutch failure caused sudden power loss to one rotor, leaving pilots unable to mitigate the mechanical breakdown.
In April 2010, a CV-22 Osprey crash in Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of three U.S. troops and one civilian. The crash was attributed to mechanical issues that have since plagued the broader V-22 Osprey fleet.
While engineers have yet to fully resolve this issue, the Pentagon has restricted Osprey flight durations to no more than 30 minutes in certain cases. These limitations undermine one of the aircraft’s key advantages: its ability to conduct extended-range missions.
A 2021 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighted additional reliability concerns, noting that low mission-capable rates frequently grounded the aircraft due to mechanical failures. Such issues have further fueled skepticism about the Osprey’s long-term suitability.
An AP investigation into Osprey’s safety record revealed some fundamental design issues in this aircraft.
Experts said that “the Osprey’s proprotors, which work as propellers while flying like an airplane and as rotor blades when functioning as a helicopter, are too small in diameter for the aircraft’s weight, which can top out at 60,500 pounds.”
Besides, the Osprey’s entire engine, transmission, and proprotors rotate to a vertical position when it flies like a helicopter, which compromises the engines.
“It’s an aircraft with a huge amount of performance packed into a very compact space. What that means is that it’s a real hot rod to fly,” Richard Brown, a rotorcraft specialist at Sophrodyne Aerospace, told AP. “But it also has these foibles which are baked into the design.”
Beyond the safety concerns, the Osprey’s high operational and maintenance costs also raise questions about its long-term viability. The estimated cost of each CMV-22B is US$96 million, compared to US$40 million for the retired C-2A Greyhound.
Why Is The U.S. Still Investing In The Osprey?
Despite these significant drawbacks, the U.S. continues to invest in the Osprey due to its unique operational advantages. Unlike other transport aircraft, the CMV-22B can vertically land on aircraft carriers, making it indispensable for delivering critical supplies.
The U.S. Navy heavily relies on the V-22 Osprey, a versatile and irreplaceable asset in its fleet. Since its deployment, the V-22 has proven its value in missions across the globe, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and North Africa.
Its ability to bypass traditional infrastructure constraints has enabled the Navy to execute complex operations from shore locations without relying solely on ships. Moreover, its unrefueled combat radius allows it to cover vast areas, making it a crucial component of modern warfare.
Operationally, the CMV-22B has proven indispensable. The Navy’s first squadron, VRM-30, began utilizing the aircraft in 2021, supporting operations aboard carriers such as the USS Carl Vinson in the Pacific.
Beyond the Navy, the V-22 Osprey has seen widespread adoption, with the Marine Corps operating over 350 MV-22Bs and the Air Force employing dozens of CV-22s for specialized missions.
No other aircraft in the Navy’s arsenal matches the Osprey’s capabilities, despite its challenges, such as high operating costs and maintenance delays.
Despite its controversies, many pilots appreciate the Osprey for its unique capabilities.
“There’s no other platform out there that can do what the V-22 can do,” said former Osprey pilot Brian Luce, who has survived two crashes. “When everything is going well, it is amazing. But when it’s not, it’s unforgiving.”
In addition, the Osprey program sustains thousands of jobs at Bell Boeing’s assembly plant in Amarillo, Texas, and throughout its extensive supply chain.
The future of the CMV-22B Osprey remains uncertain. While the aircraft plays a vital role in the U.S. Navy’s logistics operations, its operational legacy is overshadowed by ongoing safety concerns and escalating costs.
These challenges contribute to ongoing debates in Congress over whether continued investment in the Osprey is justified. Some lawmakers, particularly on the House Armed Services Committee, have pressed the Pentagon to justify continued investments in the Ospreys.
However, despite multiple congressional hearings over the years, it has returned to flight every time. Some members of Congress have warned that there is no more margin for error.
“If another Osprey goes down, we’re done. This program’s done,” Rep. Stephen Lynch, a Massachusetts Democrat, told Osprey program officials during a hearing this spring.
With the latest contract for five more aircraft, it is safe to say that the US Navy will continue to invest in this unique aircraft. However, the latest emergency landing incident in Japan will surely raise more questions about their reliability.
- By: ET Newsdesk
- Mail us at: editor (at) eurasiantimes.com
