According to a contract released by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on December 9, 2020, Bell Boeing Joint Project Office, Amarillo, Texas, is awarded a $170,438,450 modification against a previously awarded, fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the production and delivery of one CMV-22B variation in quantity aircraft for the Navy and exercises options for V-22 Common Configuration Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM) Lot 4 requirements.
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A CMV-22B Osprey from the “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 approaches the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70). (Picture source U.S. Navy)
Additionally, this modification provides for planned maintenance interval inspections, repairs, shipping and storage containers and tooling in support of the V-22 CC-RAM program. The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.
The U.S. Marines have multiple configurations of the MV-22 aircraft in service. Under the Common Configuration – Readiness and Modernization (CC-RAM) program, Bell Boeing is reducing the number of configurations by upgrading block B aircraft to the current block C configuration. In November 2019, the U.S. Navy awarded Bell Boeing $146,039,547 to upgrade nine additional MV-22 aircraft under the CC-RAM program, with work expected to be completed in March 2022.
The CMV-22B is the U.S. Navy’s long-range/medium-lift element of the intra-theater aerial logistics capability. It fulfills the Joint Force Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC) time-critical logistics air connector requirements by transporting personnel, mail, and priority cargo from advance bases to the Seabase. It is a U.S. Navy variant for the carrier onboard delivery (COD) role. Similar to the MV-22B but includes an extended-range fuel system, a high-frequency radio, a public address system, and an improved lighting system for cargo loading.
The CMV-22 is the replacement for the C-2A Greyhound for the Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) mission. The aircraft is based on the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor V/STOL (vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft that can take off and land as a helicopter but transit as a turboprop aircraft.
The CMV-22B is expected to field with Initial Operational Capability (IOC) in 2021 (projected). While the Program of Record has 48 CMV-22 projected, the Navy currently plans to procure only 44 aircraft.
