The aircraft carrier delivery version of the Osprey tiltrotor has been funded for production, as the major part of a third multi-year buy (MYB) contract award to the Bell-Boeing partnership. The U.S. Navy will acquire a total of 39 CMV-22B versions to replace C-2 Greyhounds that have been in service since the mid-1960s.

The MYB also includes 14 more MV-22Bs for the U.S. Marine Corps; one more CV-22B for the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command; and four more MV-22Bs for Japan. V-22 program officials previously hoped to secure other international orders for inclusion in this MYB. But only Japan has opted to become a customer to date; in 2015 it placed an initial order for five. Israel was expected to buy and received a formal foreign military sales offer for six in 2014. But it has not yet proceeded and continues to evaluate alternatives for replacement of its CH-53 heavy helicopter fleet.

Chris Gehler, Bell’s vice president for the V-22 program, said that the new MYB extends production “through at least 2024.” 


Bell-Boeing previously received a development contract worth $151 million for the CMV-22B, to provide extra range by means of additional fuel tanks in extended sponsons, plus HF radio capability. The UK Royal Navy is theoretically another potential customer for this carrier delivery version, to serve the two Queen Elizabeth-class warships coming into service. But budgetary problems have prevented a commitment.

Separately, an aerial tanker version of the MV-22 was instigated in 2016, by means of a contract awarded by Bell-Boeing to Cobham. The refueling specialist was mounting its FR300 Hose Drum unit as a roll-on, roll-off kit.