MV-22 Osprey

For the second time now, U.S. Navy testers have recommended declaring the Marine Corps’ problem-plagued MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft “operationally suitable and effective for military use”, an important step for the $46 billion program before it can enter full production. DefenseTech.org has more.

Inside the Navy cited government sources familiar with a summary report from the Navy’s operational testing command sent to defense officials June 30/05. But their sources cited the report as saying some glitches remained involving certain radios, passenger seat restraints and electronic combat gear. Minor glitches at this stage are not unusual. The Navy had no immediate comment on the report.

In November 2000, naval testers similarly declared the aircraft suitable and effective despite a fatal Osprey crash in April of that year. A second crash occurred in December 2000, bringing the total of marines killed in fight tests to 23 and leading to a rigorous new evaluation program after a 17-month grounding.

• Reuters (July 10/05) – U.S. Osprey Warplane Said To Advance

• Congressional Research Service Report for Congress (Jan 7/05) – V-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft [report in PDF format]. Very fair. Catalogs all of the program’s travails in detail, and presents the arguments both for and against the V-22 Osprey well.

• Project On Government Oversight Investigations Archive – MV-22 Osprey

• Military.com – H. Thomas Hayden Column: The MV-22 Osprey

• U.S. Naval Institute (1999) – How Will We Escort the MV-22? (registration required)