BELL BOEING V-22 OSPREY

The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft
with both vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) and short takeoff and landing (STOL)
capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the
long-range, highspeed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

HISTORY

❖ In 1980, the failure of Operation Eagle Claw (during the Iran hostage crisis), underscored
that there were military roles for which neither conventional helicopters nor fixed-wing
transport aircraft were well-suited.
❖ The United States Department of Defense (DoD) initiated a program to develop an
innovative transport aircraft, with long-range, high-speed, and vertical-takeoff
capabilities; the Joint-service Vertical take-off/landing Experimental (JVX) program
officially commenced in 1981.

❖ A partnership between Bell Helicopter and Boeing Helicopters was awarded a

development contract in 1983 for the V-22 tiltrotor aircraft. The Bell Boeing team jointly
produces the aircraft.
 ❖ The V-22 first flew in 1989 and began flight testing and design alterations; the
complexity and difficulties of being the first tiltrotor for military service led to many
years of development.

❖ The JVX aircraft was designated V-22 Osprey on 15 January 1985; by that March, the
first six prototypes were being produced, and Boeing Vertol was expanded to handle the
workload.

❖ On 3 May 1986, Bell Boeing was awarded a US$1.714 billion contract for the V-22 by
the U.S. Navy. At this point, all four U.S. military services had acquisition plans for the
V-22. ❖ The first V-22 was publicly rolled out in May 1988.

❖ Since entering service with the Marine Corps and Air Force, the Osprey has been
deployed in transportation and medevac operations over Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and
Kuwait. The U.S. Navy plans to use the CMV-22B for carrier onboard delivery duties
beginning in 2021.

V-22 IN INDIA

In 2015, the Indian Aviation Research Centre showed interest in acquiring four V-22s for
personnel evacuation in hostile conditions, logistic supplies, and deployment of the Special
Frontier Force in border areas.

US V-22s performed relief operations after the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.The Indian
Navy also studied the V-22 rather than the E-2D for airborne early warning and control to replace
the short-range Kamov Ka-31.

India is interested in purchasing six attack version V-22s for rapid troop insertion in
border areas.

ARMAMENT

The V-22 can be armed with one 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 in caliber) M240 machine gun or .50
in caliber (12.7 mm) M2 machine gun on the rear loading ramp. A 12.7 mm (.50 in) GAU-19
three-barrel Gatling gun mounted below the nose was studied.BAE Systems developed a belly-
mounted, remotely operated gun turret system,[130] the Interim Defense Weapon System
(IDWS);it is remotely operated by a gunner, targets are acquired via a separate pod using color
television and forward looking infrared imagery.The IDWS was installed on half of the V-22s
deployed to Afghanistan in 2009;it found limited use because of its 800 lb (360 kg) weight and
restrictive rules of engagement.

Propulsion Two Rolls-Royce AE1107C, 6,150 shp (4,586 kW) each

Length Fuselage: 57.3 ft. (17.47 m); Stowed: 63.0 ft. (19.20 m)
Width Rotors turning: 84.6 ft. (25.78 m); Stowed: 18.4 ft. (5.61 m)
Height Nacelles vertical: 22.1 ft. (6.73 m); Stabilizer: 17.9 ft. (5.46 m)
Rotor Diameter 38.1 ft (11.6 m)
Vertical Takeoff Max Gross Weight 52,600 lbs. (23,859 kg)
Max Speed 270 kts (500 km/h) @ SL
Mission Radius 428 nm – MV-22 Blk C with vertical takeoff - 24 troops
There were 32 IDWSs available to the USMC in June 2012; V-22s often flew without it
as the added weight reduced cargo capacity. The V-22's speed allows it to outrun conventional
support helicopters, thus a self-defense capability was required on long-range independent
operations.

The infrared gun camera proved useful for reconnaissance and surveillance. However, by
2019, the USMC opted for IDWS upgrades over adopting new weapons

SPECIFICATIONS AND ROLES

Cockpit - crew seats 2 MV / 3 CV / 2 CMV

 The Osprey is the world's first production tiltrotor aircraft,with one three-bladed
proprotor, turboprop engine,and transmission nacelle mounted on each wingtip.It is classified as
a powered lift aircraft by the Federal Aviation Administration.For takeoff and landing, it
typically operates as a helicopter with the nacelles vertical and rotors horizontal.

Primary function:
Amphibious assault transport of troops, equipment and supplies from assault ships and
land bases.