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Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, and Boeing celebrate the upcoming completion of the CV-22 Program of Record (POR) for the U.S. Air Force. Bell and Boeing commemorated the V-22 Osprey production milestone during a ceremony at the Bell Amarillo Assembly Center on April 18.
“Completing the CV-22 production aircraft for the U.S. Air Force is an immense honor and testament to the amazing men and women who have worked to design, engineer, and build these incredible aircraft,” said Eldon Metzger, Bell V-22 program director. “As we reach this milestone of CV-22 production we embark on the next chapter of our journey as we transition from full-rate production to fleet wide sustainment.”
The V-22 is the first tiltrotor aircraft introduced into military service and has successfully provided speed, range, and terrain agnostic capabilities unlike any other aircraft. The U.S. Air Force is the first of the U.S. military branches who operate the V-22 Osprey with improved nacelles to complete their program of record for new build aircraft.
"The CV-22 Osprey represents the dedication and determination of all those who had a hand in creating a unique aircraft and capability for the U.S. Air Force," said Kathleen (KJ) Jolivette, vice president and general manager, Vertical Lift for Boeing Defense, Space & Security. "We are proud of all the work that has gone into the program over the years and look forward to maintaining the CV-22 for decades to come in support of its mission critical operations."
The Air Force variant of the Osprey is designed specifically for special operations missions leveraging the speed and range advantages too long and complex for other aircraft. Some high-profile CV-22 Osprey missions include:
- The longest distance nighttime hostage rescue of American citizens in the Department of Defense history.
- The evacuation of 194 people from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
- Landing on a naval vessel traveling at full speed more than 250 nautical miles from land to rescue an American during a medical emergency.
The final CV-22 aircraft will complete production in the coming months before delivery to the U.S. Air Force. With the completion of the CV-22 Program of Record, Team Osprey, the group of industry partners supporting the V-22, is now focused on fleet wide sustainment and upgrades for the U.S. Air Force Osprey variant. Bell and Boeing continue to build new MV-22 and CMV-22 variants for the U.S. Marine Corps and the Navy.
