V-22 Osprey: The Multi-Year Program
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In March 2008, the Bell Boeing Joint Project Office in Amarillo, TX received a $10.4 billion modification that converted the previous advance acquisition contract (N00019-07-C-0001) to a fixed-price-incentive-fee, multi-year contract. The new contract now sits at $10.8 billion, and will be used to buy 141 MV-22 (for USMC) and 31 CV-22 (Air Force Special Operations) Osprey aircraft, plus associated manufacturing tooling to move the aircraft into full production.
The V-22 tilt-rotor program has been beset by controversy throughout its 20-year development period. DID’s “V-22 Osprey: A Flying Shame?” offers a focused look at a number of specific allegations associated with the program, with material from Pentagon test reports, critical reviews, ongoing news reports, and the US military’s responses. Despite these issues, and the emergence of competitive but more conventional compound helicopter technologies like Piasecki’s X-49 Speedhawk and Sikorsky’s X2, the V-22 program continues to move forward. This DID Spotlight article looks at the V-22’s new multi-year purchase contract, associated contracts for key V-22 systems, and program developments that arise after the contract conversion.
The latest developments involve a slew of minor contracts, and a very negative GAO report on the program. Which does nothing to change the program…
- Contracts & Key Events (June 2008 – Present) [updated]
- Additional Readings
This DII Spotlight article gives quick access to news and updates on the V-22 and a comprehensive background on the hybrid aircraft, including:
- Parts, procurement, and maintenance contracts
- Related training
- Supporting multimedia, including photos and diagrams, videos, slides and engine fact sheets
- Modifications to US warships to accommodate the V-22
- Links to news releases, supplemental research and corporate source materials, additional DII feature stories, including "V-22 Osprey: A Flying Shame?" and "Snakes and Rotors: The USMC's H-1 Helicopter Program"
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